At least 75 Indians have been successfully evacuated from war-torn Syria after rebel forces toppled the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The evacuees have safely crossed into Lebanon and are expected to return to India via commercial flights, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This evacuation operation came in response to requests from Indian nationals in Syria and a careful assessment of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country.
The group of evacuees includes 44 “zaireen” (pilgrims) from Jammu and Kashmir, who had been stranded in the area of Saida Zainab, a site of religious significance. The Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the evacuation efforts, ensuring the safe exit of these citizens amid the chaos that followed the collapse of the Assad regime.
While these 75 Indians have made it to Lebanon, some still remain in Syria. The Indian government has urged those still in Syria to stay in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus, providing a helpline number (+963 993385973) and an email address (hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in) for communication.
The developments in Syria have been dramatic. Rebel forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, captured the Syrian capital, Damascus, following a rapid 12-day offensive. This marks the end of over five decades of brutal rule by the Assad family. President Bashar al-Assad, a long-time ally of Russia, fled the country prior to the rebels breaching his palace and is reportedly seeking asylum in Russia.
In the wake of the Assad regime’s downfall, the rebels have appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as the transitional prime minister. In his first interview with Al Jazeera, al-Bashir called for “stability and calm” in the country as they prepare for a new government.
Meanwhile, the United States has reached out to the rebel leadership, urging them to ensure an inclusive process in forming a transitional government, rather than assuming automatic control. The Biden administration is reportedly in communication with former President Donald Trump’s team on the matter, signaling the international community’s keen interest in Syria’s future governance.
