Operation Sindhu was an Indian government led evacuation mission to safely bring back Indian nationals from conflict zones in Iran and Israel amid the Iran–Israel war.
Operation Sindhu was launched by the Government of India on 18 June 2025 in response to escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, which left thousands of Indian nationals, including students, professionals, and workers, stranded in conflict zones. The operation aimed to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from high-risk areas and facilitate their return to India.
Evacuation from Iran
The first phase focused on Iran, where over 3,500 Indian nationals were evacuated. The operation utilized land routes through Armenia and Turkmenistan to move citizens from northern Iran to safer zones, followed by special evacuation flights to New Delhi. Armenia played a crucial role due to its geostrategic location, with a 44-km border with Iran and the Nurduz-Agarak crossing providing a safe corridor. The evacuees included students, workers, professionals, pilgrims, and fishermen from more than 15 Indian states, as well as OCI cardholders, Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals, and one Iranian spouse of an Indian national. Notably, the operation included over 1,500 women and 500 children.
Evacuation from Israel
The second phase began on 23 June 2025, focusing on Indian nationals in Israel. Evacuees were moved across land borders to Jordan and Egypt, from where they were flown back to India using IAF C-17 aircraft and commercial flights. A total of 818 Indian nationals were evacuated from Israel, including students, workers, and professionals.
Logistics and Coordination
Operation Sindhu involved 19 special evacuation flights, including three Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, and was coordinated by Indian diplomatic missions in Tehran, Yerevan, Ashgabat, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, and Cairo. The Indian government established a 24×7 control room in New Delhi and emergency helplines at embassies to monitor the situation and assist citizens on the ground. Iran’s reopening of its airspace on 20 June facilitated faster evacuation via Mashhad. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Outcome
By the end of the operation, a total of 4,415 Indian nationals were safely evacuated—3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel. The operation successfully rescued students, professionals, workers, pilgrims, and children, highlighting India’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts in crisis situations.
