India Launches Evacuation Flights from Israel Under Operation Sindhu
India has announced that evacuation flights for Indian nationals in Israel will begin from June 22, 2025, under an expanded phase of Operation Sindhu. The initiative comes amid rising tensions in the region following the ongoing military conflict involving Israel and Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that the evacuation process will involve the transfer of Indian citizens to Amman, Jordan, from where special flights will bring them home.
Evacuation Flights Begin via Jordan
The first batch of evacuees from Israel is expected to reach Amman by land, with flights scheduled to take off the following day. While border restrictions on Saturdays temporarily limited movement, authorities coordinated for the safe passage of Indian nationals, ensuring they are assembled in Amman for onward travel. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has urged all citizens to remain in contact with the control room and register for evacuation.
Operation Sindhu: Expanded Efforts Continue
Originally launched to evacuate Indians from Iran, Operation Sindhu has now expanded to cover Israel. Earlier this week, over 500 Indian citizens were evacuated from Mashhad, Iran, via Ashgabat. Iran made an exception by opening its otherwise restricted airspace, allowing India to carry out emergency flights. Around 1,000 students and pilgrims were brought back in chartered aircrafts, with one such flight landing in Delhi at 3 am on June 21.
“Operation Sindhu continues…” the MEA confirmed, with more flights planned based on the evolving security situation. The initiative highlights India’s swift crisis response strategy and diplomatic coordination across regional partners.
Voices From The Ground
Students who returned from Iran shared deeply emotional responses. One said, “Can’t express what it feels like to be back home,” while another noted, “The situation was bad… we were scared. The government brought us back from our dormitory, from our doors.”
The Indian Navy, Air Force, and Ministry of External Affairs have been working closely to streamline rescue operations and ensure no citizen is left behind. The government has reiterated that citizen safety abroad remains a top priority and efforts will continue until all Indians in conflict zones are safely repatriated.
