Operation Sukoon to evacuate Indians from Lebanon

New Delhi, July 19: Four Indian naval ships, as part of 'Operation Sukoon', today reached Beirut where 1,000 Indian nationals are ready for being evacuated from the war zone of Lebanon.

''The first batch of 1000 Indians living in Lebanon will be taken to Cyprus where they will be given protection,'' Indian Navy spokesman Capt Vinay Garg said.

He said the four ships, positioned off the Lebanese Coast in the Mediterrarean, will take about eight hours to reach Cyprus harbour.

As the ships could evacuate only 1000 people at a time, it would take about a week for all the 12,000 Indian nationals to vacate Lebanon under the Operation, he added.

The Indian government has sent an advisory to all the Indians in Lebanon to keep their documents and papers ready.

Already, 49 Indians and the family members of the Indian Embassy staff in Beirut have been evacuated to neighbouring Syria by two buses organised by the Embassy. In Damascus, the Indian Embassy is looking after them.

India is also in touch with Israel to see what assistance they can provide.

The government has, however, not decided on pulling out the 672 Indian troops who are part of the United Nations Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

UNI