Amid rising tensions in the Middle East following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, India has begun evacuating its citizens from Israel, according to a report by NDTV citing government sources on Sunday.
The move follows the launch of Operation Sindhu, a coordinated evacuation effort already underway to bring Indians home from Iran.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that preparations are in place to assist Indian nationals in Israel who wish to leave due to the intensifying regional conflict.
The evacuation plan includes overland travel followed by flights to India. “The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad,” the MEA said in an official statement.
There are currently an estimated 18,000 Indians living in Israel. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has urged those still in the country to register at indembassyisrael.gov.in/indian_national_reg, if they haven’t already.
A 24/7 control room has been activated with hotlines at +972 54-7520711 and +972 54-3278392, as well as an email helpline at cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.
India had already launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate citizens from Iran, where military tensions have been escalating. So far, over 800 Indian nationals, including more than 300 students, have been flown back to India via three chartered flights — two from Mashhad and one from Ashgabat in neighboring Turkmenistan.
The evacuations are unfolding as the region teeters on the edge of a broader conflict. Hostilities began last week with Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, senior military leaders, and nuclear scientists, citing concerns over Iran’s progress toward developing a nuclear weapon.
On Sunday, the situation dramatically escalated as U.S. forces joined the offensive, conducting airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. U.S. President Donald Trump called the strikes “a very successful attack,” marking the first time the United States had targeted Iranian nuclear sites since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
India’s dual evacuation efforts reflect the seriousness of the evolving crisis and its potential implications for regional and global stability.
