Task Force-54 sails back after operation 'Sukoon'

Mumbai, Aug 10: Task Force-54 of the Western Fleet, comprising Indian Naval Ships(INS) Mumbai, Brahmaputra, Betwa and Shakti, today returned from the Mediterranean after the successful completion of operation 'Sukoon' -- the vacuation of stranded Indians from Lebanon.

The ships ferried all these Indian nationals and some others to the nearest port -- Larnaca in Cyprus, from where they were airlifted to various parts of India.

Western Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding Rear Admiral Anup Singh, onboard the command's flagship INS Mumbai, the flotilla for the evacuation mission.

Rear Admiral Singh told mediapersons here that the navy began its evacuation mission on July 19 and completed it on August 1 successfully without any casualty or injury.

During the operation, a total of 2,218 persons were evacuated which included 1,764 Indians, 436 Sri Lankans, 68 Nepalese, two Americans, two Greeks and two injured journalists from Reuters news agency, the FOC said.

He said that Task-Force 54 was sailing back home after a 45-day overseas bilateral excercise with the Turkish, Greek and Italian Navies, when it was ordered to sail back by the Government to evacuate stranded Indians in Lebanon.

Expressing satisfaction over Operation ''Sukoon'', he appreciated all Indian agencies including the Indian High Commission in Beirut for their 'syncronised and synergized' cooperation during the course of evacuation.

UNI