Patna (Bihar) [India], June 24 (ANI): Union Minister Nityanand Rai lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu, saying that ever since he came to power whoever is in trouble is evacuated, whether it is during COVID or during any conflict.

'Ever since PM Narendra Modi came to power, whoever is in trouble is evacuated, whether it is during COVID or during any conflict. Some foreign citizens, who were not evacuated by their respective nations, also came in holding Indian flag and then flew off to their countries. PM Modi does not want any Indian to face adversity in any part of the world,' Rai told reporters.

A special flight carrying 281 Indian nationals, along with three Sri Lankan and two Nepalese citizens, stranded in conflict-hit Iran, arrived safely in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.

With this, the total number of Indians brought back from Iran under Operation Sindhu has reached 2,576, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

In a post on X, sharing the pictures of the evacuees, the MEA said, 'Update: #OperationSindhu MoS @PmargheritaBJP warmly received 281 Indian, 3 Sri Lankan & 2 Nepalese nationals evacuated from Iran. They arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad at 1500 hrs on 24 June. 2576 Indian nationals have now been brought home from Iran as part of #OperationSindhu.'

The conflict between Israel and Iran began on June 13 when the former launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, code-named 'Operation Rising Lion'. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated a large-scale drone and missile campaign called 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. (ANI)