Indian Navy to evacuate 300 from Lebanon

After evacuating 1496 Indians and nationals of some other countries from Lebanon in two batches, the Navy will pull out about 300 more people on Wednesday from the trouble-torn country facing a war with Israel.

One of the four Indian Naval warships, on a stand-by off the Beirut coast, will enter the harbour of the Lebanese capital on Wednesday to ferry the 300 Indians to Larnaca in Cyprus.

They will be airlifted from India from Larnaca on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said on Tuesday.

This will be third phase of evacuation since July 21 under 'Operation Sukoon' launched after Israel started striking at Lebanon about two-weeks ago evoking retaliation.

In the first phase of evacuation as per the 'air-sea corridor', 599 Indians, six Nepalese, three Lebanese and one Sri Lankan national were pulled out from Lebanon.

Subsequently, 784 Indians, 41 Nepalese, 57 Sri Lankans and five Lebanese were evacuated on Sunday.

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Pradeep Chauhan said INS Mumbai will possibly be used to evacuate the stranded Indians and nationals from other countries on Wednesday.

With regard to the remaining of about 12,000 Indians living in Lebanon, Sarna said the Indian Embassy in Beirut was trying to establish contact with them to ascertain their desire on leaving that country.