India Urges Citizens To Evacuate Immediately As Civil War Reignites In Syria

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged its Indian citizens in Syria to immediately leave the conflict-stricken country. It has also issued a warning against travelling to the Middle Eastern nation.

This comes as rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, capture major cities of Aleppo and Hama. Local armed groups also took control of Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, on Saturday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria until further notification,” the MEA stated. “Those who can are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights, while others are requested to exercise utmost caution, prioritize their safety, and minimize their movements.”

It has also provided a helpline number for assistance: +963 993385973. Indian nationals in Syria has been asked to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus.

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