New Delhi:
The Indian embassy in war-torn Syria’s capital Damascus continues to stay operational and is in contact with all Indian nationals, sources have stated.
All Indian nationals in Syria are protected and the embassy stays obtainable to assist them, sources stated.
Islamist-led rebels right now stated they’ve liberated Syria from the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
In an advisory earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested Indians residing within the violence-hit nation to go away by the earliest obtainable industrial flights if they’ll. The advisory got here earlier than the rebels breached the capital Damascus.
“In view of the scenario prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are suggested to keep away from all journey to Syria, till additional notification,” the MEA had stated.
“Indians at the moment in Syria are requested to stay in contact with the 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 stated.
“Those who can, are suggested to go away by the earliest obtainable industrial flights and others are requested to watch utmost precaution about their security and prohibit their actions to the minimal,” it added.
On Friday, India stated it’s intently following the unfolding scenario in Syria.
“We have taken observe of the latest escalation in combating within the north of Syria. We are intently following the scenario,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, together with 14 who’re working in varied UN organisations.
Syria’s rebels stated the chief of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, arrived in Damascus hours after fighters seized the capital and stated they ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
Identifying him by his actual identify Ahmed al-Sharaa, the assertion on Telegram stated he had “knelt down prostrating to God in thanks” on the bottom after arriving within the Syrian capital.
A video confirmed him kneeling in a subject and bringing his head to the bottom.
Syrians woke as much as a modified nation on Sunday, as rebels swept into Damascus lower than two weeks right into a lightning offensive declaring that they had toppled “tyrant” Assad, whose whereabouts are unknown after he reportedly fled Syria.
An announcement that was learn on Syrian state tv, which rebels took over, quoted Jolani as saying: “We proceed to work with dedication to realize the targets of our revolution… We are decided to finish the trail we began in 2011”.
That 12 months, Assad cracked down on peaceable pro-democracy protesters, triggering a posh battle that drew in international armies and jihadists.
With inputs from AFP