Summary
- India evacuated 827 citizens from war-torn Israel via Jordan and Egypt under Operation Sindhu.
- The 24×7 control room and three-nation coordination showcased India’s growing crisis response capability.
- The mission underscores India’s global stature as a dependable first responder for its diaspora.
A Crisis at the Doorstep: Operation Sindhu in a Region on Fire
On June 19, 2025, amid the escalating Iran–Israel conflict, the Government of India launched a mission that would once again test its ability to protect citizens far from home. Operation Sindhu, named after one of India’s lifelines, was set in motion to evacuate thousands of Indian nationals stranded in a region where sirens were blaring, missiles were falling, and entire neighborhoods had turned into bunkers.
By June 23, 827 Indian citizens—including students, caregivers, women, and children—had been successfully evacuated from Israel, primarily through crossings into Jordan and Egypt. What unfolded was not just a logistical exercise, but a coordinated geopolitical operation involving three sovereign nations, multiple airports, secured land corridors, and the full spectrum of India’s consular machinery.
Behind this operation was a sense of urgency fueled by reports of missile strikes near major civilian hubs like Haifa, Beersheba, Ramat Gan, and the Weizmann Institute. Yet, what stood out most was India’s response: quick, precise, and unrelenting. The Operation Sindhu India Israel evacuation 2025 isn’t merely a headline—it’s a case study in modern diplomacy, logistics, and citizen-centered statecraft.
When skies closed, India is keeping the corridor of trust open! #OperationSindhu is a luminous, ongoing example of India’s strategic statecraft rooted in #VasudhaivaKutumbakam. Since 13 June, when Iran’s airspace fell silent amid escalating conflict, India quietly achieved the… pic.twitter.com/oOmjqSnzGt
— Lakshmi M Puri (@lakshmiunwomen) June 22, 2025
Boots on the Ground, Eyes on the Skies
- The first batch of 160 evacuees crossed into Jordan on June 22.
- Two more groups (175 and 268) left via Jordan and Egypt on June 23.
- The Embassy in Tel Aviv operated a 24×7 control room for coordination.
- Evacuation was prioritized based on medical emergencies, children, and vulnerable groups.
- India’s diplomatic teams in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt worked in real time.
At the heart of Operation Sindhu was a complex, multi-nodal evacuation architecture. With air travel within Israel heavily restricted due to security risks, ground routes to neighboring Jordan and Egypt became lifelines. Evacuees were escorted across the border in closely monitored convoys, with Indian embassy teams receiving them at the crossings and facilitating their onward journeys to Amman and Cairo airports.
To manage the chaos, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv set up a 24×7 control room that managed thousands of calls and emails. A web portal was launched for citizens to register, followed by direct outreach calls from embassy officials to confirm travel details and eligibility.
The coordination didn’t stop at the borders. Indian missions in Jordan and Egypt played critical roles in managing accommodations, arranging flights, and ensuring security clearance—all under the real-time guidance of the Ministry of External Affairs and Prime Minister Modi’s office. This level of operational synergy elevated Operation Sindhu to a benchmark mission.
A Nation’s Promise in Action
- The Iranian missile strikes brought war closer to residential areas in Israel.
- Indian nationals lived under constant threat in Haifa, Rehovot, and Beersheba.
- Makeshift sanctuaries in fortified safe rooms became the norm for days.
- Despite the panic, no Indian casualties have been reported so far.
- India’s proactive evacuation strategy reassured over 40,000 Indians still in Israel.
Israel is home to an estimated 40,000 Indian nationals, including over a thousand students, thousands of caregivers, construction workers, IT professionals, and businesspeople. For many of them, the days before Operation Sindhu were filled with dread. Missile sirens frequently interrupted daily routines. Families took shelter in underground rooms and reinforced bunkers. Communication lines were often disrupted.
Indian officials monitored the situation hour-by-hour. Decisions were made based on evolving threats—not political hesitation. Students and medical emergencies were prioritized, with embassy staff going so far as to assign flight slots based on family needs and medical conditions.
While airstrikes rattled cities like Ramat Gan and Rehovot, India’s diplomatic network in Tel Aviv worked quietly, methodically. They arranged land-based evacuations without triggering panic, coordinated with Israeli forces for safe passage, and ensured that the Ministry of Civil Aviation could facilitate repatriation flights from third countries.
In a statement released on Sunday, the mission stated: “Operation Sindhu is yet another testament to India’s emergence as a credible ‘first responder’ in international crises.” The numbers may still grow—but the tone is clear: India is watching, and India is ready.
India’s Diaspora Doctrine: From Ganga to Sindhu
- Operation Sindhu joins the ranks of Operation Ganga, Kaveri, Ajay, and Devi Shakti.
- These operations reflect India’s evolving global diaspora strategy.
- Rapid evacuation is now a key tenet of India’s foreign policy and public diplomacy.
- India’s stature as a global “first responder” is increasingly recognized.
- Strategic partnerships with Egypt, Jordan, and Israel proved vital.
The Operation Sindhu India Israel evacuation 2025 is not a standalone act. It is the latest chapter in a new playbook India has been writing over the last decade—a doctrine centered on rapid-response diplomacy and the security of its global diaspora.
In 2022, India evacuated thousands of students from Ukraine under Operation Ganga. It followed up with Operation Devi Shakti from Afghanistan, Operation Kaveri from Sudan, and Operation Ajay—ironically, also from Israel in 2023. These missions are not symbolic. They are infrastructural, grounded in diplomatic channels, military readiness, and civilian coordination.
Through Sindhu, India not only demonstrated operational competence but also political maturity. It balanced a warm relationship with Israel, logistical cooperation with Jordan and Egypt, and the domestic imperative to protect its citizens—all without inflaming an already explosive regional situation.
This new standard places India in a small club of nations that can execute complex, multinational evacuations on short notice. And it reshapes how the world sees Indian foreign policy—not just assertive, but agile.
From Evacuation to Expectation
The dust may settle in Israel. The sirens may fall silent. But Operation Sindhu leaves behind a powerful message—one that reverberates far beyond the Middle East. It tells Indian nationals, wherever they are, that the State is watching, listening, and ready to act.
With 827 Indians already back, more flights expected, and thousands still registered, the mission is ongoing. Yet its legacy is already clear. In a world where crises unfold faster than diplomacy, India has shown that resolve and readiness can still carry the day.
Operation Sindhu is not just a rescue. It is a statement of identity and intent. A message to the Indian diaspora: you are never forgotten, even in war.
