New Delhi:
India on Tuesday evacuated 75 Indians from Syria, two days after rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime.
The evacuation was coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut and followed an assessment of the security situation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria in response to the recent developments in the country,” the Indian government said in a late night statement.
“The evacuees also include 44 'Zaireen' from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded in Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return to India on available commercial flights. ,” the paper said.
The MEA said the government gives top priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.
“Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to remain in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus,” it said.
“The government will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the MEA added.
The Syrian government collapsed on Sunday as rebels seized control of the capital Damascus after seizing several other prominent cities and towns. President Assad fled the country after the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group seized control of Damascus, ending his family's 50-year rule.
Russian state media reported that Assad is in Moscow and will be granted asylum. His nearly 14-year tenure was marked by civil war, bloodshed, and brutal repression of political opponents.
The MEA on Monday said it was monitoring ongoing developments in Syria and advocated for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process in the country.
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