Operation Sindhu Expands: Over 1,000 Indians Evacuated As Iran-Israel Conflict Continues

Three charter flights carrying about 1,000 Indian nationals are set to arrive in Delhi on Friday night from Iran, marking the second phase of Operation Sindhu, India’s ongoing evacuation mission. The large-scale operation follows worsening security conditions due to the Iran-Israel conflict.

Another evacuation flight is also arriving from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, carrying Indians who crossed overland from Iran. These missions follow the arrival of 110 Indian students on June 18, who had been shifted to Armenia before being flown to Delhi.

What is Operation Sindhu and why is it being conducted?

Operation Sindhu is the Government of India’s emergency evacuation initiative to bring home Indian nationals stranded in conflict-affected regions, especially amid the escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel. The operation was launched after a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian cities prompted urgent concerns for the safety of Indians living there, Times Now reported.

The first flight under Operation Sindhu brought back 110 Indian students from Armenia’s capital Yerevan on June 18. The evacuation was coordinated by the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the Indian Mission in Armenia. Most students were from Jammu and Kashmir and had been studying in Iranian universities. According to officials, some had narrowly escaped harm when a dormitory was hit by Israeli missile fire.

How were these evacuations made possible?

A special diplomatic effort ensured the success of the current phase of evacuations. Iranian authorities lifted airspace restrictions temporarily to allow Indian chartered flights to operate—a significant gesture at a time when the country’s skies are largely closed due to conflict.

“We consider Indians as our own people,” said Mohammad Javad Hosseini, deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi. “Iran’s airspace is closed but because of this issue, we are making arrangements to open it for the safe passage of Indian nationals.” Hosseini confirmed that more such flights could be arranged if required and added that Tehran is in continuous coordination with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed the first batch of evacuees at Delhi airport and confirmed that evacuation efforts will continue. “We are evacuating some more people from Turkmenistan. Our missions have opened 24-hour helplines for evacuation requests,” he said.

Singh also extended gratitude to the governments of Armenia and Turkmenistan for facilitating the movement and safe repatriation of Indian nationals.

How many Indians are in Iran and what’s their current status?

According to Iranian officials, around 10,000 Indian nationals reside in Iran, many of them students. While most are currently safe, a few were reportedly injured when a missile struck a student dormitory in Tehran recently. The Iranian government has pledged to ensure the safety and secure passage of those wishing to leave, whether by air or through land crossings into third countries like Armenia or Turkmenistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated its commitment to prioritizing the safety of Indian citizens abroad. Emergency helplines have been established in Tehran and New Delhi to assist Indian nationals in Iran who seek evacuation.

Operation Sindhu remains active, and officials have indicated that more flights may be dispatched in the coming days, depending on how the security situation evolves.