The Indian government on December 6 issued a travel advisory for Syria, strongly advising Indian nationals to avoid all travel to the country until further notice. This warning comes in light of the escalating violence and instability in Syria, which poses significant risks to travellers.
“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.
Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number (also available on WhatsApp) and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in for updates. Those who can leave are advised to do so by the earliest available commercial flights, while others are urged to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum, the MEA release added.
Notably, India took note of the violent escalation in Syria, keeping in mind the safety of Indian nationals there. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that there are around 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 working in various UN organisations. “We have taken note of the recent escalation in fighting in the north of Syria. We are closely following the situation. There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 who are working in various UN organisations. Our Mission remains in close contact with our nationals for their safety and security,” Jaiswal said in a press briefing on December 6.
Escalation of Violence in Syria
The warning comes as insurgents, led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a large offensive and took control of several key cities, including Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. This offensive has broken a long-standing stalemate in the nearly 14-year-old Syrian civil war. The insurgents are reportedly aiming to push towards Homs and eventually capture Damascus, the capital, which is controlled by President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
On December 5, the rebels advanced further, capturing the central city of Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. This victory in Hama is a significant milestone, as the insurgents now focus on taking Homs, an important city that connects various regions. If Homs falls, it would effectively cut off Assad’s control over several areas, further weakening his grip on power.
Videos circulating online showed hundreds of people fleeing Homs overnight as anti-regime rebels pushed southwards towards Damascus. The fighting has intensified as rebel forces seek to advance on the capital, raising concerns over the safety of civilians in the region.
A Resurging Civil War
The violent offensive by Syrian rebels has reignited a civil war that had been largely dormant for years. Since 2020, front lines have remained mostly unchanged, with rebel groups confined mainly to Idlib province. However, the recent fighting has broken this stalemate, bringing renewed violence to several parts of Syria.
The conflict, which began in 2011 after Assad moved to suppress peaceful pro-democracy protests during the Arab Spring, has caused over 300,000 civilian deaths and displaced millions of people across the region, according to the United Nations.
