Photo credit: ANI
The government informed Parliament on Friday that 5,945 Indian nationals were evacuated from Israel, Iran, Syria and Iraq over the past three years amid safety concerns in the region.In a written reply to a starred question in the Lok Sabha, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said the operations included Operation Ajay in Israel in 2023 and Operation Sindhu in Iran and Israel in 2025. Of those brought back, 1,474 evacuees were from Uttar Pradesh, he added.
The minister added that the government also undertook a humanitarian airlift to bring back the mortal remains of 45 Indians who died in a tragic fire in Kuwait in 2024, including three from Uttar Pradesh.The Lok Sabha question, raised by SP MP Rajeev Rai, sought details on:(a) the number of Indians evacuated over the last three years;(b) whether a large number from Uttar Pradesh had been waiting since 2014;(c) the steps taken to evacuate them; and(d) the expected timeline for completing their evacuation.Jaishankar said the government closely monitors global situations, including in the Middle East, and issues advisories urging Indians to avoid non-essential travel, follow local safety guidelines, and stay in touch with Indian missions. “Wherever necessary, evacuation operations are launched with a whole-of-government approach,” he added.The Minister further noted that evacuations provide safe shelter, food, local transport, and special flights free of cost, prioritising the safety of all Indian nationals regardless of their home state. At present, the government has no information of any imminent threat requiring fresh evacuations from the region.
