The Indian government has safely helped 75 Indian citizens leave Syria after rebel forces took control of the country by removing its leader, Bashar al-Assad. On 10 December, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said these people are now in Lebanon and will soon return to India on regular flights.

Among the evacuees were 44 pilgrims, known as ‘zaireen,’ from Jammu and Kashmir. They were stranded at Saida Zainab, a religious site in Syria.

“The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country. The evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India,” the MEA said in a statement.

Evacuation coordinated by Indian embassies

The Indian embassies in Damascus (Syria) and Beirut (Lebanon) organised the rescue of Indians from Syria. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took action after checking the safety situation in Syria and receiving help requests from Indians there.

Some Indians are still in Syria. The government has asked them to stay in contact with the Indian embassy in Damascus. They can call the helpline number +963 993385973 (also available on WhatsApp) or send an email to [email protected] for help.

Rebels take control of Syria

In Syria, the situation changed very fast when rebel forces, led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took over the capital city, Damascus, on Sunday. Their attack lasted 12 days and brought an end to over 50 years of rule by the Assad family.

Bashar al-Assad, who has strong ties with Russia, left Syria and went to Moscow just before the rebels took control of his palace. Reports say Russia has allowed him to stay there for safety.

The rebels have announced Mohammad al-Bashir as the transitional prime minister until 1 March. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he called for “stability and calm” during this period.

The United States has engaged with the rebels and encouraged them to form an inclusive transitional government. A US official revealed that the Biden administration has also discussed the matter with Donald Trump's team, as Trump had previously called Syria a “mess.”