Operation Sindhu Brings 161 Indians Home from Israel Amid Escalating Tensions

New Delhi | June 25, 2025

The tension remains high between Iran and Israel, but relief was finally apparent on the faces of 161 citizens of India as they landed in Delhi on Tuesday morning. Their return flight home, part of the government’s Operation Sindhu mission, marked the first successful evacuation from Israel, bringing their family members safely back to the country.

A number of the passengers were very emotional as they arrived on the flight from Amman, greeted by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita at the airport. “It feels like a second life,” whispered one passenger, her voice trembling.

“We Thought We Might Not Make It”

The last days spent in Israel were filled with fear and uncertainty for some evacuees. Missiles were flying above them. “We stayed inside for hours and heard sirens really close to us and explosions,” reported a man who had been staying in Jerusalem. “When the Indian embassy called, it was like family calling.”

A woman was eyewitnessing the planes flying over her current residence while she was holding her child: “We didn’t know we would get out. But India never left us behind. They brought us home, and we are thankful, so so thankful.”

Government Steps In With Urgency

In a tweet, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Operation Sindhu’s Israel phase began on June 23 and that the safe return of this first group was just the beginning. “Our citizens’ safety abroad is not just a priority—it’s a responsibility,” he wrote.

The flight took off from Jordan’s capital, Amman, and landed at Delhi airport around 8:20 AM. The minister, Margherita, who greeted the passengers at the airport, stated, “This return is not only a logistical operation but also a reminder that in any crisis and distress, the Government of India will always stand behind its citizens.”

Earlier in this mission, hundreds of Indian nationals had already been successfully evacuated from Iran. With parts of West Asia flaring up, India’s message is clear: No Indian will be left behind.

Operation will continue.

The ministry of external affairs reiterated that the operation will continue as long as necessary and that all citizens wanting to come home will be able to do so.

In the meantime, the new arrivals reunited with their family members and embraced in the terminal. It wasn’t just a place they returned to, it was a vow fulfilled. For these 161 Indian citizens, that promise was fulfilled.