The Ministry of Exterior Affairs on Friday night time issued an advisory to residents to keep away from all journey to Syria till additional discover. The ministry urged Indians in Syria to go away the nation on the earliest.
“In view of the state of affairs prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are suggested to keep away from all journey to Syria, till additional notification,” the MEA mentioned. “Indians presently in Syria are requested to stay in contact with Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline quantity +963 993385973 (additionally on WhatsApp) and electronic mail ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in for updates.”
It added: “Those that can, are suggested to go away by the earliest obtainable business flights and others are requested to look at utmost precaution about their security and limit their actions to the minimal.”
Insurgent forces in Syria have pressed a lightning offensive in opposition to Bashar al-Assad’s authorities, displacing a minimum of 3,70,000 individuals since November 27, in line with the UN.
The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have vowed to march to Homs and the capital, Damascus, Assad’s seat of energy.
The sudden offensive has flipped the tables on a long-entrenched stalemate in Syria’s almost 14-year-old civil conflict. Together with HTS, the fighters embody forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias referred to as the Syrian Nationwide Military.
‘Carefully following state of affairs’: MEA
Earlier within the day, the MEA mentioned it’s carefully following the state of affairs within the Arab Republic.
“We’ve got taken word of the current escalation in preventing within the north of Syria. We’re carefully following the state of affairs. There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, together with 14 who’re working in varied UN organisations,” Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned.
“There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, together with 14 who’re working in varied UN organisations. Our mission stays in shut contact with our nationals for his or her security and safety,” he mentioned.
Jaiswal made the remarks in response to a query at his weekly media briefing.
