India Launches Operation Sindhu to Evacuate 110 Students from Iran Amid Rising Israel–Iran Tensions.
National
Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Indian government recently launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ on June 18, 2025, to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian nationals—particularly medical students—stranded in conflict-affected areas of Iran. The operation marks India’s latest humanitarian effort to uphold citizen safety abroad, reinforcing its proactive foreign policy.
- Operation Sindhu was triggered after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, 2025, in retaliation to Iran-backed proxy activities. These attacks intensified military conflict across Iran, leading to missile launches, internet shutdowns, power failures, and civilian disruptions, especially in urban centers like Tehran, Tabriz, and Urmia—where hundreds of Indian medical students study.
- On June 18, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) activated the first leg of Operation Sindhu, successfully evacuating 110 Indian students from Urmia in northwestern Iran. The students were moved by land to Yerevan, Armenia, and then flown to New Delhi via a special evacuation flight, which landed safely in the early hours of June 19.
- The evacuation was coordinated by the Indian embassies in Tehran and Yerevan, in partnership with the Armenian government. Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh monitored the mission, while MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that additional evacuations were being organized through Turkmenistan and Georgia for students still in Iran.
Main Point :- (i) Operation Sindhu mirrors previous Indian efforts like Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022) and Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023). It reinforces India’s diplomatic agility and reputation for prioritizing the safety of its diaspora, even amid high-risk geopolitical zones.
(ii) Over 4,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, remain in Iran. The Government of India has activated 24x7 helplines and grievance cells at embassies to manage ongoing evacuations.
(iii) Additional flights are being scheduled, with plans to prioritize those in proximity to active conflict areas. The operation will continue in phases until all vulnerable Indians are brought home safely.
About Iran
Official language: Persian
Capital: Tehran
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