Vilianahdm: quick rework information and added references

2026-03-04T09:38:52Z

quick rework information and added references

2409:4050:D80:D449:CCB4:E79E:EBB5:7DA0: /* Background */

2021-07-07T08:30:23Z

Background

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[[File:INS Mysore en route to Libya.jpg|thumb|alt=Grey ship moving towards the camera|[[INS Mysore (D60)|INS Mysore]] en route to Libya in 2011]]
[[File:INS Jalashwa in Mumbai.jpg|thumb|alt=Large, grey ship at dockside|[[INS Jalashwa (L41)|INS Jalashwa]] in Mumbai before proceeding to Libya]]
'''Operation Safe Homecoming''' was an operation launched by the Indian government on 26 February 2011 to evacuate its citizens who were fleeing from the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libyan Civil War]].<ref name="Report">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHXTno4MCVoC |title=Report - Indian Ministry of External Affairs |publisher=Government of India Press |year=2011 |page=xi |quote=As the situation deteriorated, a multi-pronged evacuation of Indian nationals, by air, sea, and land route, was started under Operation'safe Homecoming on 26 February 2011.}}</ref><ref name="Sify1">{{cite news
|url =http://www.sify.com/news/india-unveils-operation-safe-homecoming-thousands-on-way-news-national-lc1qOccdabe.html
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110302101857/http://www.sify.com/news/india-unveils-operation-safe-homecoming-thousands-on-way-news-national-lc1qOccdabe.html
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2011-03-02
|date = 2011-02-27
|title =India unveils Operation Safe Homecoming, thousands on way
|accessdate =2011-02-28
|publisher =Sify News}}</ref> The air-sea operation was conducted by the [[Indian Navy]] and [[Air India]].<ref name="Sify1"/> The last such operation was during the [[2006 Lebanon War]], when the Indian Navy and Air India were used in [[Operation Sukoon]]; before that, India evacuated 111,711 nationals after the 1990 Iraqi [[invasion of Kuwait]].<ref name="Sify1"/><ref>{{cite book
| title =Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1
| publisher =Encyclopædia Britannica India Pvt Ltd.
| date =2000
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=Kpd9lLY_0-IC&q=1990+when+they+successfully+evacuated+111,711&pg=PA35
| page =35 | isbn =9780852297605
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| title =The Guinness book of records 1999
| publisher =Guinness
| date =2000
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=rdU1xtIWJz0C&q=1990+111,711+kuwait
| page =192| isbn =9780851120706
}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Prelude}}Background==
The Libyan Civil War began as a series of protests and confrontations in the [[North Africa]]n state of [[Libya]] against the [[Politics of Libya|government]] and its leader, [[Muammar Gaddafi]]. The [[social unrest]] began on 15 February 2011, and became a [[First Libyan Civil War|civil war]] which continued until 23 October of that year. The unrest was attributed to uprisings in [[Tunisian Revolution|Tunisia]] and [[Egyptian revolution of 2011|Egypt]], connecting it to the wider [[Arab Spring]].<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/world/africa/19libya.html|title = Libya Protests Build, Showing Revolts' Limits|date=18 February 2011| accessdate = 22 February 2011 | first= Anthony| last =Shadid|work=[[The New York Times]]| location = [[Cairo]]}}</ref> According to [[NBC News]] chief foreign correspondent [[Richard Engel]], who reached the city of [[Tobruk]] on 22 February, "The protest movement is no longer a protest movement, it's a war. It's open revolt."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/22/6107480-in-libya-its-open-revolt-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224043612/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/22/6107480-in-libya-its-open-revolt-|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2011|title=In Libya it's 'open revolt'|first=Richard|last=Engel|work=MSNBC|date=22 February 2011|accessdate=24 February 2011}}</ref> That day, ''[[The Economist]]'' described the events as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling [[Autocracy|autocrat]]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/02/libyas_uprising|title=The Economist, "Time to Leave – A correspondent reports from the border between Libya and Egypt"|work=[[The Economist]]|date=22 February 2011|accessdate=23 February 2011}}</ref> Gaddafi blamed the uprising on [[al-Qaeda]] and "drugged kids".<ref>{{cite news |title=Qaddafi's Grip on Power Weakens on Loss of Territory |first1=Benjamin |last1=Harvey |first2=Maram |last2=Mazen |first3=Massoud A. |last3=Derhally |authorlink3=Massoud Derhally |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-24/qaddafi-blames-revolt-on-al-qaeda-as-foes-tighten-hold-in-east.html |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |date=25 February 2011 |accessdate=25 February 2011 |quote=Qaddafi, speaking by telephone on state television yesterday, blamed the uprising against his 41-year rule on 'drugged kids' and al-Qaeda.}}</ref>

=={{anchor|The Operation}}Operation==
Eighteen thousand Indian nationals working in [[Libya]] were trapped because of the unrest.<ref name="Sify1"/> Evacuation appeared to be difficult due to "chaos" at the [[Tripoli International Airport|central airport]] in [[Tripoli]],<ref name="volkskrant1">{{cite web|author=ANP |url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/4936/VK-Dossier-Onrust-in-het-Midden-Oosten/article/detail/1850849/2011/02/22/Vliegtuig-geland-niet-alle-Nederlanders-op-vliegveld.dhtml |title=Vliegtuig geland, niet alle Nederlanders op vliegveld – VK Dossier: Onrust in het Midden-Oosten |publisher=Volkskrant |language=Dutch |date=2011-02-01 |accessdate=2011-02-22}}</ref> a "destroyed" runway at [[Benina International Airport]],<ref name="Zeit-flugbahn">{{cite news |url=
http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2011-02/libyen-evakuierung-bengasi-flugbahn |title=Unruhen: Westen holt Staatsbürger aus Libyen |publisher=Die Zeit.de |date=2011-02-22 |accessdate=2011-02-22}}</ref> and the temporary closure of Libyan ports.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.porttechnology.org/news/libyan_unrest_leads_to_total_port_closures |title=Libyan unrest leads to total port closures – Port Technology International |access-date=2011-02-28 |archive-date=2018-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161253/https://www.porttechnology.org/news/libyan_unrest_leads_to_total_port_closures |url-status=dead }}</ref>

India ordered three naval ships—two destroyers (the INS [[INS Mysore (D60)|''Mysore'']], and [[INS Aditya (A59)|''INS Aditya'']])<ref name="ET1">{{cite news
|url =http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/libya-unrest-over-500-indians-return-more-arriving-amid-tales-of-woe/articleshow/7587240.cms
|date = 2011-02-27
|title =Libya unrest: Over 500 Indians return, more arriving amid tales of woe
|accessdate =2011-02-28
|publisher =Economic Times}}</ref> and its largest amphibious vessel, the INS [[INS Jalashwa (L41)|''Jalashwa'']]—to sail from [[Mumbai]] to [[Libya]] on 26 February.<ref name="MSN1">{{cite news
|url =http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4960669
|date =2011-02-24
|title =Navy decides to despatch 3 naval warships to Libya
|accessdate =2011-02-28
|publisher =MSN News
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131053/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4960669
|archive-date =2011-07-14
|url-status =dead
}}</ref><ref name="TOI1">{{cite news
|url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-27/mumbai/28637902_1_indian-navy-naval-ships-ins-jalashwa
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120308235315/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-27/mumbai/28637902_1_indian-navy-naval-ships-ins-jalashwa
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2012-03-08
|date = 2011-02-27
|work =[[The Times of India]]
|title =Naval ships to bail out Indians stranded in Libya
|accessdate =2011-02-28
}}</ref> It chartered the 1,200-seat ''MV Scotia Prince''<ref name="Sify1"/> and the 1,600-seat ''La Superba'',<ref name="Sify1"/> based in [[Sicily]], to sail to [[Libya]] as soon as port preparations were completed. The ''MV Scotia Prince'' set sail from [[Port Said]] on 26 February, and reached [[Benghazi]] two days later.<ref name="Sify1"/> The navy and charter ships evacuated passengers from [[Tripoli]] and [[Benghazi]] to [[Alexandria]], and Air India flew the passengers from [[Egypt]] to [[India]].<ref name="NDTV1">{{cite news
|url =http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/indian-navy-sending-3-ships-to-evacuate-indians-from-libya-87609
|date = 2011-02-24
|title =Indian Navy sending 3 ships to evacuate Indians from Libya
|accessdate =2011-02-28
|publisher =NDTV}}</ref> Although the naval ships reached the Libyan coast by 8 March,<ref name="TOI3">{{cite news
|url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-04/india/28659364_1_hotels-by-indian-embassy-il-76-heavy-lift-aircraft
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121105000629/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-04/india/28659364_1_hotels-by-indian-embassy-il-76-heavy-lift-aircraft
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2012-11-05
|date = 2011-03-04
|work =[[The Times of India]]
|title =IAF joins effort to bring back Indians in Libya
|accessdate =2011-03-04
}}</ref> much of the evacuation had already been carried out by the chartered ships and aircraft.<ref name="TOI4">{{cite news
|url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-10/india/28676377_1_warships-libyan-coast-successful-air-bridge
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121105005552/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-10/india/28676377_1_warships-libyan-coast-successful-air-bridge
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2012-11-05
|date = 2011-03-10
|work =[[The Times of India]]
|title =Indian warships not needed for evacuation from Libya
|accessdate =2011-03-11
}}</ref> The Indian government announced that the evacuation would be free of charge.<ref name="Zee1"/>

After Libyan authorities gave [[India]] permission to land in [[Tripoli]],<ref name="Zee1">{{cite news
|url =http://www.zeenews.com/news689873.html
|date = 2011-02-26
|title =India begins Libya evacuations today
|accessdate =2011-02-28
|publisher =Zee News}}</ref> two [[Air India]] planes (a [[Boeing 747]] and an [[Airbus 330]]) flew 500 passengers to [[New Delhi]] and [[Mumbai]] from [[Tripoli]].<ref name="Sify1"/> Additional landing rights were requested for flights from [[Sabha Airport]], where about 1,000 people were awaiting evacuation.<ref name="TOI2">{{cite news
|url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-01/india/28643086_1_flights-evacuation-indians
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121105000635/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-01/india/28643086_1_flights-evacuation-indians
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2012-11-05
|date = 2011-03-01
|work =[[The Times of India]]
|title =India begins Libya evacuations today
|accessdate =2011-03-01
}}</ref> In addition to [[Sabha, Libya|Sabha]], [[India]] was given permission to land planes at [[Sirte]]<ref name="IT1">{{cite news
|url =http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/131266/india/4500-indians-rescued-from-libya.html
|date = 2011-03-02
|title =4500 Indians rescued from Libya
|accessdate =2011-03-02
|publisher =India Today}}</ref> where another 1,000 Indians awaited evacuation.<ref name="TOI2a">{{cite news
|url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-aircraft-to-join-evacuation-operations-from-Libya/articleshow/7613076.cms
|date = 2011-03-03
|title =Naval ships to bail out Indians stranded in Libya
|accessdate =2011-03-03
|publisher =Times of India}}</ref> On 2 March, the [[Government of India|Indian government]] ordered all private airlines to fly one flight each to [[Libya]]. The following day, two carriers ([[Jet Airways]] and [[Kingfisher Airlines]])<ref name="TOI3a">{{cite news
|url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Private-airlines-asked-to-operate-one-flight-everyday-to-Libya/articleshow/7603885.cms
|date = 2011-03-02
|title =Private airlines told to pitch in with Libya evacuation
|accessdate =2011-03-03
|publisher =Times of India}}</ref> flew Indian nationals who had been ferried to [[Malta]] from the [[Luqa]] airport. On 3 March, an [[Indian Air Force]] [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76]] plane flew Indians to [[Cairo]] from [[Sirte]].<ref name="TOI2"/>

Several Indian citizens had been crossing [[Libya]] into neighbouring countries overland. Some reached [[Sallum|Sallum, Egypt]] from [[Tobruk]] and were met at the border by Indian embassy officials, who arranged a flight to [[Mumbai]].<ref name="ET1"/> Eighty-eight Indian citizens entered [[Tunisia]] at [[Ras Ajdir]].

==Aftermath==
On 5 March 2011, the Indian government announced that the evacuation would be completed by 10 March.<ref name="Sify1a">{{cite news
|url =http://www.sify.com/news/india-to-complete-operation-safe-homecoming-by-march-10-preneet-kaur-news-national-ldetEdhajha.html
|archive-url =https://archive.today/20130202175708/http://www.sify.com/news/india-to-complete-operation-safe-homecoming-by-march-10-preneet-kaur-news-national-ldetEdhajha.html
|url-status =dead
|archive-date =2013-02-02
|date = 2011-03-04
|title =India to complete 'Operation Safe Homecoming' by March 10: Preneet Kaur
|accessdate =2011-03-05
|publisher =Sify News}}</ref> After the evacuation of more than 15,000 Indian nationals, the operation ended on 11 March.<ref name="TGI1">{{cite news
|url =http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110311/jsp/nation/story_13698870.jsp
|date = 2011-03-10
|title =Mission Libya
|accessdate =2011-03-10
|publisher =The Telegraph}}</ref> About 3,000 Indian citizens decided to remain in Libya.<ref name="TGI1"/>

==References==
{{Commons category|Operation Safe Homecoming}}
{{reflist|30em}}

{{2011 Libyan civil war}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Safe Homecoming}}
[[Category:Foreign intervention in the First Libyan Civil War]]
[[Category:2011 in India]]
[[Category:History of the foreign relations of India]]
[[Category:India–Libya relations]]
[[Category:Humanitarian military operations]]
[[Category:Non-combat military operations involving India]]
[[Category:Evacuations of Indians]]
[[Category:Airlifts]]

Operation Safe Homecoming - Revision history

Vilianahdm: quick rework information and added references

2409:4050:D80:D449:CCB4:E79E:EBB5:7DA0: /* Background */