"The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country," it said in a late-night statement on Tuesday.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that they will closely monitor the ongoing unrest in Syria and advised the Indian nationals remaining in Syria to be in contact with the Indian Embassy.

Syria, under the Assad family - first Hafez al-Assad and later Bashar al-Assad - has consistently supported India on critical issues, particularly regarding Kashmir.

A new political setup in Syria could bring changes that affect India’s relationship with the country. These shifts may also influence India’s position and plans in the broader Middle East region, as Syria plays an important role in the area’s politics.

As Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and Bashar al-Assad fled, some social media users claimed a video showed the ousted Syrian president's plane downed and in flames. But the clip is unrelated to the December 2024 offensive ;

The ministry advised Indian nationals who are still in Syria to stay in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus at the emergency helpline number +963 993385973

Among those evacuated were 44 zaireen (pilgrims) from Jammu & Kashmir stranded in Saida Zainab, a prominent pilgrimage site.

The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following an assessment of the security situation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.