New Delhi: In a continued effort to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully evacuated 268 Indians from Egypt under Operation Sindhu. The IAF’s C-17 transport aircraft landed in New Delhi this morning, where Minister of State L Murugan welcomed the evacuees.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), shared details of the flight on social media platform X, stating, “268 Indian nationals who returned in the third flight from Israel were received by MoS Dr L Murugan. The IAF C-17 flight from Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, landed in Delhi at 1100 hrs on 24th June.”

With this latest flight, the number of Indians brought back under Operation Sindhu has risen to 594, according to MEA officials.

Earlier on the same day, another IAF C-17 aircraft returned from Amman, Jordan, carrying 165 Indian nationals. That aircraft arrived in Delhi at 8.45 am and was also received by MoS L Murugan.

Jaiswal had earlier noted, “An IAF C-17 flight evacuated 165 Indian nationals from Israel under Operation Sindhu. They were received by MoS L Murugan upon arrival in Delhi. The aircraft landed at 0845 hrs on 24th June from Amman (Jordan).”

In a statement posted on X, the Indian Air Force affirmed its continued commitment to such missions, stating, “In response to heightened tensions in conflict-affected areas in West Asia, IAF C-17 aircraft commenced missions from Jordan and Egypt to extricate Indian nationals and citizens of friendly countries. The IAF remains committed as first responders to provide assistance within the country and across the globe in times of need.”

 

Operation Sindhu

Operation Sindhu’s Israel phase officially began on June 23, as confirmed by the MEA. Jaiswal reiterated that safeguarding Indian citizens overseas remains a top priority for the Indian government.
 

The urgent evacuations are in response to the conflict that erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a major air campaign—Operation Rising Lion—targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles under the codename Operation True Promise 3, aimed at disrupting Israel’s military fuel and energy infrastructure.

Operation Midnight Hammer

Tensions further spiraled after the United States launched precision strikes early Sunday under Operation Midnight Hammer against three critical Iranian nuclear sites. Iran responded by firing multiple missiles at US military positions in Iraq and Qatar, including the Al Udeid Air Base—America’s largest base in the region—according to CNN.