Prateeksha Thakur
As Syrian Conflict Intensifies, MEA Advises Indians to Avoid Travel, Urges Those in Syria to Leave Immediately for Safety
New Delhi, 7 December 2024
The Indian government has issued a travel advisory asking its citizens to avoid traveling to Syria as violence in the country escalates. With militants advancing towards Damascus and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged Indian nationals in Syria to remain extremely cautious and limit their movements. They are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus, which has set up an emergency helpline (+963 993385973, also available on WhatsApp) and an email address ([email protected]) for updates and assistance.
External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that 19 Indian nationals and several others working with United Nations organizations are currently in Syria. The embassy is monitoring their safety, and Indian citizens with access to commercial flights have been told to leave the country as soon as possible.
The advisory comes as the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues its rapid offensive in Syria. The group recently seized the southern city of Daraa, near the Jordanian border, after striking a deal with Syrian army officials. Their forces have now advanced to within five miles of Homs, a key city on a vital coastal route. Homs is strategically important as it connects Damascus to areas that support President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and Russian military bases.
The ongoing conflict has displaced an estimated 370,000 people, according to the United Nations. Thousands have fled to coastal regions like Latakia and Tartus, but many civilians are still trapped in front-line areas, unable to find safer places to go.
This militant offensive has not only caused widespread suffering but also poses a major threat to Syria’s political and strategic stability. Jordan has already closed its borders, citing security risks. If Homs falls to the militants, it could further isolate Damascus and significantly shift the dynamics of the conflict.
NI Bureau
