India Issues Advisory Against Travel to Syria Amid Rising Violence
In response to escalating violence in Syria, India has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to the Middle Eastern country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the ongoing unrest and security concerns, advising Indian nationals to refrain from visiting Syria “until further notification.”
The MEA has also urged Indian citizens currently in Syria to leave the country as soon as possible using the earliest available commercial flights. For those stranded in Syria, the Ministry provided an emergency helpline and email for assistance from the Indian Embassy in Damascus. The emergency contact number for the embassy is +963 993385973.
In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal assured that the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation in Syria, with particular attention to the safety of Indian nationals living there. The MEA confirmed that nearly 90 Indians are currently residing in Syria, including 14 working with UN organizations. The Indian mission in Damascus is in regular communication with these citizens to ensure their well-being.
The violence in Syria has intensified in recent weeks, as Syrian rebel forces, including the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have launched a major offensive. Rebel forces have recently captured key areas like Hama and Homs, threatening to further destabilize the region and challenge the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The civil war, which has raged since 2011, has already claimed over 300,000 civilian lives, with millions more displaced.
The HTS, a group with historical ties to Al-Qaeda, has expressed its goal of overthrowing Assad’s regime, and its recent actions have further fueled the violence. With the ongoing conflict threatening civilians and political stability, India has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Syria and remain in contact with the embassy for updates.
