Iran has granted India special access to its otherwise restricted airspace to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals under Operation Sindhu, the government’s emergency effort to rescue citizens amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
At least 1,000 Indian students stranded in conflict-hit Iranian cities are expected to return to Delhi over the next two days. According to reports, the first evacuation flight is set to land in Delhi at 11 PM IST tonight, with two more scheduled for Saturday, one in the morning and another in the evening.
Iranian airspace has largely remained closed to international traffic following days of missile strikes and drone attacks exchanged between Israel and Iran. However, India has been granted an exclusive humanitarian corridor to ensure safe passage for its citizens.
The government of India announced Operation Sindhu on Wednesday, following reports of Indian students injured in Iran. The Iranian foreign ministry and embassy officials in Delhi are working in coordination with India’s mission in Tehran to support the evacuation efforts.
Earlier this week, 110 students were evacuated from northern Iran to Armenia by road, before flying to Delhi from Yerevan on June 18. The operation was managed by India’s embassies in Tehran and Yerevan.
As the conflict continues, multiple countries have begun evacuating their citizens from Iran and Israel by air, land and sea, with many commercial flights suspended and regional airspaces closed.
India’s prompt evacuation move comes amid mounting global concern over the safety of civilians in the Middle East, as thousands of foreigners flee the region following Israel’s initial missile strikes on Iran last week.