Middle East tensions: Israel in ‘constant contact’ with India; says Israeli envoy on civilian evacuation | India News

NEW DELHI: As tensions continue to rise between Israel and Iran, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has said that his country remains in “constant contact” with ministry of external affairs (MEA) regarding the safety and evacuation of Indian nationals from Israel.In an interview with PTI Videos on Friday, Ambassador Azar said, “We are in constant contact with the MEA on all subjects that have to do with the evacuation of civilians. We’ve been cooperating since the beginning of the war, and this cooperation continues.” He added, “Whatever message we get from the Indian government, we take it very seriously in order to make sure that all Indian citizens are safe.”The comments follow India’s decision to evacuate its citizens from Israel on Thursday after an Iranian missile struck a hospital in the Beersheba region. The MEA issued a statement saying that Indian nationals wishing to leave would be assisted through land routes and then flown back to India.The Indian Embassy in Israel has been issuing regular advisories urging nationals to take precautions. On Wednesday, India launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid the worsening security situation in the region.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed on Saturday that a total of 517 Indian nationals had been brought back from Iran under Operation Sindhu so far. A special flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi early on June 21 carrying evacuees.The conflict, now in its ninth day, began on June 13 with Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” a large-scale offensive targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Iran responded with “Operation True Promise 3,” striking Israeli energy sites.Ambassador Azar had earlier told reporters that Israel would continue to act to “degrade” Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, though he hoped for a diplomatic resolution.With the situation remaining volatile, India’s evacuation efforts from both Israel and Iran are expected to continue in coordination with authorities in both countries.