India evacuates 75 nationals from war-torn Syria following Assad's ouster

The Indian government successfully evacuated 75 nationals from Syria, just two days after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian regime. The operation, coordinated by India's embassies in Damascus and Beirut, was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late Tuesday night.

In an official statement, the MEA said, "The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in the country. The evacuees included 44 'zaireen' from Jammu and Kashmir stranded in Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed into Lebanon and will return via commercial flights."

The MEA also advised remaining Indian nationals in Syria to stay in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus. Emergency helplines and email support have been activated for those requiring assistance.

The evacuation comes in the wake of dramatic political upheaval in Syria. On Sunday, rebels from the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the Assad government, taking control of the capital, Damascus. This marked the end of the Assad family's five-decade-long rule. Reports suggest that President Assad has fled to Russia, where he has been granted asylum.

The new interim leadership in Syria, backed by the HTS, announced Mohammed al-Bashir as the caretaker prime minister. Al-Bashir, who previously led the rebel-led Salvation Government, is set to oversee the country until March 1, 2025.

The HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, led the revolt that culminated in the capture of Damascus. The group now faces the challenge of stabilizing a war-torn nation.