New Delhi, December 7:
The Indian government has issued an advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to Syria due to escalating violence and unrest in the region.
“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in an advisory released on Friday.
The advisory also encouraged Indian nationals currently in Syria to leave the country as soon as possible using available commercial flights.
To assist those stranded, the MEA shared an emergency helpline and email address for contacting the Indian Embassy in Damascus. “Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973,” the advisory said.
Earlier, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that the government is closely monitoring the developments in Syria and South Korea. The Indian missions in both countries are actively ensuring the safety of Indian citizens.
According to the MEA, approximately 90 Indian nationals reside in Syria, including 14 individuals working with United Nations organisations.
Jaiswal assured the public that the Indian Embassy in Damascus is maintaining regular communication with Indian nationals in Syria. “We are closely following the situation. Our mission remains in close contact with our nationals for their safety and security,” he added.
Renewed Violence in Syria
The Syrian civil war, which had been relatively dormant in recent years, has seen a resurgence of violence following an offensive by rebel groups. The rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recently captured the city of Hama and advanced into Homs, posing a significant threat to the territories controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2011, over 300,000 civilians have lost their lives, with millions more displaced across the region, according to United Nations reports.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the HTS rebel alliance, reiterated the group’s primary objective. “When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal,” Jolani said in an interview with CNN.
HTS, once affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has sought to distance itself from its extremist roots and improve its public image in recent years.
The rebel offensive began last Wednesday, coinciding with the implementation of a ceasefire in neighbouring Lebanon amid the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
In response to the rebel advances, tens of thousands of Alawites, a minority group supporting Assad, fled Homs on Thursday, according to residents and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Homs has historically been a focal point of the Syrian civil war, enduring years of siege, sectarian violence, and military clashes.
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