Operation Sindhu: 173 Indians Evacuated from Iran via Armenia

Operation Sindhu has successfully evacuated 173 Indian nationals from Iran through a special flight from Armenia. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the flight's arrival in New Delhi, highlighting the government's efforts in ensuring the safe return of its citizens amidst ongoing conflicts. Evacuees expressed their gratitude for the support received during this operation. The initiative has seen a total of 4,415 Indians evacuated from Iran and Israel, showcasing the government's commitment to its citizens abroad. Read on to learn more about this significant operation and the experiences of those involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 27, 2025, 08:59 IST

Successful Evacuation Under Operation Sindhu

Operation Sindhu: A dedicated evacuation flight from Armenia, transporting 173 Indian citizens residing in Iran, successfully arrived in the national capital on Thursday night, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The flight, which departed from Yerevan, touched down at 10:30 PM (IST) on June 26.

According to the spokesperson from the Ministry, “#OperationSindhu has seen a special flight from Yerevan land in New Delhi at 22:30 hrs on June 26, bringing back 173 Indian nationals from Iran. To date, a total of 4,415 Indian citizens have been evacuated through 19 special flights, including three operated by the Indian Air Force, with 3,597 coming from Iran and 818 from Israel. Additionally, 14 OCI cardholders, 9 Nepali citizens, 4 Sri Lankan nationals, and 1 Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also part of this operation.”

Those who were evacuated expressed their heartfelt thanks to the government for ensuring their safe return to India under Operation Sindhu. One Indian student remarked, “The government supported us in every way possible; they did everything they could.”

Another student conveyed gratitude, stating, “On behalf of all the students, I thank our Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs for the excellent facilities provided.”

Previously, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that India has evacuated 3,426 nationals from Iran and 818 from Israel as part of Operation Sindhu.

During a weekly briefing, Jaiswal noted, “Operation Sindhu was initiated on June 18. We estimate around 10,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iran, and approximately 40,000 in Israel.”

Jaiswal also expressed gratitude to the Iranian government for allowing the use of their airspace for these evacuations. “We made a request, and they agreed to open their airspace for us to evacuate our citizens. We appreciate this gesture from the Iranian government, as well as the support from Turkmenistan and Armenia in facilitating the evacuation,” he added.

Operation Sindhu was launched by the Indian government to assist in the evacuation of its citizens from Iran amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.