Operation Sindhu Launched: India Evacuates 110 Students from Iran Amid Escalating Tensions with Israel

Amid escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, India has launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ to evacuate Indian nationals, especially students, stranded in high-risk zones of Iran.

According to an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), 110 Indian students were successfully evacuated from northern Iran and safely crossed into Armenia under the supervision of Indian missions in both countries.

“India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. 110 students from northern Iran crossed into Armenia under the supervision of our Missions in Iran and Armenia on June 17. They departed from Yerevan on a special flight and will arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of June 19,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Majority of Students from Jammu and Kashmir

Iran currently hosts over 4,000 Indian nationals, nearly half of whom are students, many pursuing medical and professional degrees. A large number of them are from Jammu and Kashmir.

The students were flown out from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, on a special evacuation flight.

India’s Track Record of Evacuations from Conflict Zones

This is not the first time India has launched such an operation. In recent years, New Delhi has demonstrated its commitment to protecting its citizens abroad through swift, large-scale evacuations:

• Operation Ajay (2023): To rescue Indians stranded in Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.

• Operation Ganga (2022): To bring back Indian students from Ukraine after the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted.