Operation Raahat
| Operation Raahat | |
|---|---|
| Operational scope | Humanitarian relief |
| Planned by | Indian Armed Forces |
| Objective | Evacuation of Indian citizens from Yemen |
| Date | 31 March 2015 |
| Executed by | Indian Armed Forces |
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Operation Raahat is an operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens from Yemen during the 2015 military intervention by Saudi Arabia and its allies in that country.[1]
Background
The 2015 military intervention in Yemen began on March 27, 2015 when the Royal Saudi Air Force led a coalition of Arab states in attacking the Shiite Houthi rebels.[2] This was preceded by weeks of turmoil during which the Houthi guerrillas toppled the government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and took over the large parts of the country.
Anticipating further hostilities, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued advisories on January 21, 2015 to Indian expatriates in Yemen to leave the country. A second travel advisory urging Indians to avoid travel to Yemen, and to leave the country was issued on February 20, 2015.[3][4] Finally on March 25, 2 days before the attack by the Arab coalition, the MEA issued an urgent advisory urging all Indian citizens to evacuate as soon as possible.[5] However, 4000 Indian citizens had not heeded the warnings and were trapped in Yemen.
Response
With 4000 of its citizens stranded in Yemen, on 26 March 2015, India responded by launching Operation Raahat to evacuate its citizens. The Indian Navy redeployed INS Sumitra (P59) from anti-piracy operations off the coast of Lakshadweep to the Yemeni port of Aden. In addition, the Navy dispatched destroyer INS Mumbai (D62) and frigate INS Tarkash (F50) from Mumbai to provide protection and support to Indian ships and aircraft in the conflict zone. The Indian Air Force deployed two C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft with a capacity of carrying 600 passengers to Djibouti.[6]
Two ferries belonging to the Lakshadweep administration, MV Kavaratti and MV Corals, with a capacity for carrying 1500 passengers were dispatched to Aden.[7][8] In addition, two Airbus A320 aircraft of Air India were also deployed to Muscat in neighboring Oman.
References
- ^ "India begins evacuating citizens". The Hindu. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Airstrike on Yemen refugee camp could portend Saudi ground incursion". CNN. March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Ministry of External Affairs releases advisory against travelling to Yemen". Yahoo! News. Jan 21, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Helpline of Indian Embassy in Yemen and travel advisory". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Feb 20, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Leave strife-torn Yemen, India tells its citizens". The Hindu. March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Indian ship in periphery of Yemen waters, awaits local clearance". First Post. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "New Delhi will send two ships to Yemen to evacuate stranded Indians". the Times of India. March 27, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Delhi sends 2 ships to conflict-hit Yemen to evacuate Indians". The Times of India. March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
