At least 75 Indians have been evacuated from war-torn Syria where the rebels have toppled the Bashar al-Assad government and are set to form a government on their own. The Indian nationals have safely crossed to Lebanon and will return by commercial flights to India, the External Affairs Ministry said late last night.

There have been requests from Indian nationals in Syria and an assessment of the security situation was done, after which the evacuation was coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, the ministry said.

The government has advised Indians still in Syria to stay in touch with the embassy in Damascus via the helpline number +963 993385973, also on WhatsApp, and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in.

The development comes after rebel forces, led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, captured capital Damascus and declared a new era. Assad, an ally of the Kremlin, fled to Russia before the rebels breached his palace and has reportedly been granted asylum there.

At least 75 Indians have been evacuated from war-torn Syria where the rebels have toppled the Bashar al-Assad government and are set to form a government on their own. The Indian nationals have safely crossed to Lebanon and will return by commercial flights to India, the External Affairs Ministry said late last night.

The ministry said the evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ (pilgrims) from Jammu and Kashmir, who were stranded at Saida Zainab.

The development follows requests from Indian nationals in Syria and an assessment of the security situation, the ministry said, adding that the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut coordinated the evacuation.

Some Indians, however, remain in Syria. The government has advised them to stay in touch with the embassy in Damascus via the helpline number +963 993385973, also on WhatsApp, and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in.

Rebel forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, captured capital Damascus on Sunday after a lightning 12-day offensive, ending five decades of brutal rule by the Assad clan. Assad, a Kremlin ally, fled to Russia before the rebels breached his palace and has reportedly been granted asylum.

Mohammad al-Bashir, who has been appointed the transitional prime minister by the rebels till March 1, has called for “stability and calm”, in his first interview with Al Jazeera television.

Reports suggest the US has reached out to the rebels and urged them to run an inclusive process to form a transitional government instead of assuming automatic leadership. An official said the Biden administration in the US is also in touch with Donald Trump’s team over the matter.

Trump had earlier called Syria a “mess” and said the US should not be involved.

Rebel fighters stand on a vehicle, after rebels seized the capital and ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A day after Islamist rebels captured power in Syria, India on Monday (December 9, 2024) called for a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process to bring stability in that country.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria.

Follow Syria civil war LIVE updates on December 9

“We are monitoring the situation in Syria in the light of ongoing developments,” it said.

“We underline the need for all parties to work towards preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”

“We advocate a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process respecting the interests and aspirations of all sections of Syrian society,” the MEA said in a statement.

It further said the Indian embassy in Damascus is in contact with the Indian community, for their safety and security.

New Delhi:

The Indian embassy in war-torn Syria’s capital Damascus continues to remain operational and is in touch with all Indian nationals, sources have said.

All Indian nationals in Syria are safe and the embassy remains available to help them, sources said.

Islamist-led rebels today said they have liberated Syria from the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

In an advisory earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asked Indians living in the violence-hit country to leave by the earliest available commercial flights if they can. The advisory came before the rebels breached the capital Damascus.

“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the MEA had said.

“Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in for updates,” it said.

“Those who can, are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights and others are requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,” it added.

On Friday, India said it is closely following the unfolding situation in Syria.

“We have taken note of the recent escalation in fighting in the north of Syria. We are closely following the situation,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 who are working in various UN organisations.

Syria’s rebels said the leader of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, arrived in Damascus hours after fighters seized the capital and said they ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Identifying him by his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, the statement on Telegram said he had “knelt down prostrating to God in thanks” on the ground after arriving in the Syrian capital.

A video showed him kneeling in a field and bringing his head to the ground.

Syrians woke up to a changed country on Sunday, as rebels swept into Damascus less than two weeks into a lightning offensive declaring they had toppled “tyrant” Assad, whose whereabouts are unknown after he reportedly fled Syria.

A statement that was read on Syrian state television, which rebels took over, quoted Jolani as saying: “We continue to work with determination to achieve the goals of our revolution… We are determined to complete the path we started in 2011”.

That year, Assad cracked down on peaceful pro-democracy protesters, triggering a complex conflict that drew in foreign armies and jihadists.

With inputs from AFP

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Indian government on Friday (December 6, 2024) issued a travel advisory for Syria, strongly advising Indian nationals to avoid all travel to the country until further notice. This warning comes in light of the situation prevailing in Syria, which poses significant risks to travellers.

“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release

Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number (also on WhatsApp) and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in for updates. Those who can, are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights and others are requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum, the MEA release added.

Notably, India took note of the violent escalation in Syria, keeping in mind the safety of Indian nationals there, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that there are around 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 working in various UN organisations.

“We have taken note of the recent escalation in fighting in the north of Syria. We are closely following the situation. There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 who are working in various UN organizations. Our Mission remains in close contact with our nationals for their safety and security,” Mr. Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Friday.

The violent offensive by Syrian rebels has reawakened a civil war that had been largely dormant for years, according to CNN.

Notably, since 2020, front lines have largely remained unchanged, with rebel groups confined mainly to a small part of Idlib province.

Hundreds of people appear to have fled the central Syrian city of Homs overnight into Friday, as anti-regime rebels push further south on the road to the capital Damascus, CNN reported.

After capturing the city of Hama to the north on Thursday, the rebels set their sights on the crossroads city of Homs which, if captured, would split the territories under the control of President Bashar al-Assad in two.