Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India today is not leaving its citizens stranded abroad and is working to ensure all possible assistance is provided to Indians in West Asia amid the ongoing crisis in the region.
Speaking at an event in Kochi, Modi said the government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to support Indian citizens living and working across West Asia.
The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Gulf countries for taking care of Indian expatriates during the current tensions. He said: “The Gulf countries give the utmost care to the Indians working there. I am grateful to them for that.”
Prime Minister Modi also attacked the opposition Indian National Congress party, accusing it of playing politics over the West Asian crisis. He said issues related to the safety of Indian citizens abroad should not be politicized.
His comments come amid growing concerns about the safety of thousands of Indian citizens in West Asia as the Iran-US war escalates. Officials said that Indian missions in the region are in contact with the community and are providing necessary assistance.
Iran launches new attacks on Israel and the Arab Gulf states
Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks across the region early Wednesday, targeting Israel as well as several Gulf Arab states amid the escalating conflict.
In Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel, sirens sounded after Israeli authorities warned of three imminent Iranian strikes. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Iranian attacks also targeted Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Defense said it intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles heading towards Prince Sultan Air Base, a major facility jointly operated by Saudi and American forces. Air defenses also shot down two drones in the airspace of the city of Hafr Al-Batin, east of the country.
At sea, a cargo ship was hit by a shell in the Strait of Hormuz north of Oman, causing the ship to catch fire, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by the British military. Iran did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, although it has previously targeted ships operating in and around the strait.
The monitoring center also reported a separate attack on a container ship off Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the extent of the damage is still unclear and is being assessed by crews.
The monitoring group added that another ship was hit by a shell in the Arabian Gulf, although the crew was reported safe.
The UAE said its air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian fire early on Wednesday. The authorities said earlier that Iranian strikes in the country resulted in the death of six people and the injury of 122 others.
Meanwhile, Bahrain sounded alarm sirens after detecting an incoming Iranian attack. This warning came a day after an air strike hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight others.
