Indian Embassy in Syria Operational Amid Rebel Takeover of Damascus; MEA Urges Indians to Leave, Check Embassy Contact Details
Amid a rebel takeover of Damascus, the Indian embassy in Syria remains operational, ensuring the safety of Indian nationals. MEA urges citizens to leave immediately due to escalating violence.
New Delhi: The Indian embassy in Damascus, Syria, remains operational and in contact with all Indian nationals despite the rebel takeover of the capital. According to sources, all Indian citizens in Syria are currently safe, and the embassy is providing assistance where needed.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated its earlier advisory urging Indians in Syria to leave the conflict-ridden country at the earliest. Commercial flight options are being encouraged for those who can depart, while others have been advised to exercise caution and limit their movements.
"In view of the prevailing situation, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria until further notice," the MEA stated. For updates, Indian citizens in Syria have been asked to contact the embassy via the emergency helpline (+963 993385973) or email at hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in.
The advisory followed the rapid advances of Islamist-led rebels who claimed control of Damascus on Sunday, declaring the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The rebels, led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, proclaimed their victory less than two weeks into a lightning offensive. Jolani, identified by his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, was seen in a widely shared video kneeling in prayer upon arriving in the capital.
In a statement broadcast on Syrian state television, which the rebels now control, Jolani declared, "We are determined to achieve the goals of our revolution," referencing the uprising that began in 2011. Assad, whose crackdown on pro-democracy protests escalated into a devastating civil war, is reportedly missing and rumored to have fled the country.
India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed on Friday that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Syria, which has escalated significantly in recent days. There are approximately 90 Indians in Syria, including 14 working with United Nations agencies.
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