In a swift response to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from both countries. So far, a total of 1,873 Indians has been safely evacuated 1,713 from Iran and 160 from Israel.

A special aircraft carrying 311 Indian nationals from Mashhad, Iran, landed in Delhi late Saturday night. The Ministry of External Affairs has planned three or more evacuation flights in the next 2–3 days from Iran, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said on Sunday.

The evacuated passengers include residents of Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

In Israel, the first group of 160 Indian nationals was evacuated via the Sheikh Hussein Bridge on the Israel-Jordan border. The evacuees had gathered in Haifa and Tel Aviv on Sunday morning before being transported by road to the border crossing, approximately 120 km away.

There are currently over 40,000 Indian nationals in Israel, working as caregivers, construction workers, students, professionals, and in other roles.

Evacuation priorities were determined based on the presence of medical emergencies, young children, women, and students. Indian embassy officials contacted registered citizens via email and phone calls to confirm travel details and assign them to specific flights.

This operation underscores India’s strong commitment to the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad.

Additionally, the Indian embassy in Iran has announced that it will also make efforts to evacuate citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, less than 100 Sri Lankan nationals are currently in Iran, while around 20,000 Sri Lankans are working in Israel.