2,295 Indians evacuated from Iran, 604 from Israel as India steps up rescue efforts
India evacuated 292 of its nationals from Iran early Tuesday as part of Operation Sindhu, a mission launched to ensure the safety of Indian citizens amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
The evacuees arrived in New Delhi at 3:30 AM IST on a special flight from Mashhad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“292 Indian nationals were evacuated from Iran on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad at 0330 hrs on 24th June,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Operation Sindhu, which began on June 18, has so far facilitated the return of 2,295 Indians from Iran. A day earlier, another flight brought back 290 Indians and one Sri Lankan national from Mashhad.
Simultaneously, evacuation efforts from Israel continue. The Indian Embassy in Israel said on Monday that 604 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated via Jordan and Egypt under Operation Sindhu.
On Tuesday, Jaiswal confirmed that the first batch of 161 Indian nationals from Israel had reached India.
“The Israel leg of #OperationSindhu began on June 23, 2025, bringing home the first group of 161 Indian nationals from Israel. They safely arrived in New Delhi today at 0820 hrs from Amman, Jordan,” Jaiswal wrote on X, adding that they were received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita
In a separate update, Jaiswal said that another 165 Indian nationals were brought back from Israel on an IAF C-17 flight, which landed at 8:45 AM IST in Delhi. Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan welcomed the group on arrival.
The Israel-Iran conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded with Operation True Promise 3, striking Israeli fuel production and energy centers.
The situation intensified further after U.S. forces conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, a set of precision airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday.
Despite a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Israeli military on Tuesday reported fresh waves of missile attacks from Iran, with emergency services confirming three civilian deaths.
