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← Older revision		Revision as of 19:23, 6 April 2022
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukoon}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukoon}}
	[[Category:2006 Lebanon War]]		[[Category:2006 Lebanon War]]
	~~[[Category:Humanitarian military operations]]~~
	[[Category:Non-combat military operations involving India]]		[[Category:Non-combat military operations involving India]]
	[[Category:2006 in India]]		[[Category:2006 in India]]
	[[Category:Evacuations of Indians]]		[[Category:Evacuations of Indians]]
	[[Category:Airlifts]]		[[Category:Airlifts]]
			[[Category:Non-combatant evacuation operations]]

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{{Campaignbox Lebanon 2006}}
'''Operation Sukoon''' (Hindi, lit ''relief'') was an operation launched by the [[Indian Navy]] to evacuate [[India]]n, [[Sri Lanka]]n and [[Nepal]]ese nationals, as well as Lebanese nationals with Indian spouses, from the conflict zone during the [[2006 Lebanon War]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/July/subcontinent_July826.xml&section=subcontinent&col=|date = 2006-07-25|title = Return of evacuees brings joy to families|access-date = 2006-07-23|publisher = Khaleej Times|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930211114/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data%2Fsubcontinent%2F2006%2FJuly%2Fsubcontinent_July826.xml&section=subcontinent&col=|archive-date = 2007-09-30|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The [[Indian Armed Forces]] also launched a similar effort, [[Operation Safe Homecoming]], to bring Indian nationals from [[Libya]] during the [[2011 Libyan civil war]].

==Background==
Military conflict between [[Israel]] and the [[Hezbollah]] broke out in July–August 2006, when on 12 July, Hezbollah launched a [[Zar'it-Shtula incident|cross-border raid]] into Israel, in which 10 Israeli soldiers were killed, and two of their bodies were captured to be used to bargain for the release of [[Lebanese prisoners in Israel]]. Israel responded with an aerial and maritime blockade, and a massive bombing campaign and ground invasion of Lebanon. During the war, numerous foreign nationals visiting Lebanon were caught in the conflict. One Indian citizen was killed and three wounded on 21 July in an Israeli bombing attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060722/main5.htm |title=First Indian casualty in Lebanon |work=The Tribune |date=2006-07-22 |access-date=2015-09-06}}</ref>

The [[Government of India]] asked the Indian Armed Forces to help evacuate its citizens at risk from the conflict zone. Of the over 10,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon, almost 2,000 were at risk. Neighbouring Sri Lanka and Nepal, which lacked military resources, also requested the Indian government to help evacuate their citizens. Altogether, over 2,200 nationals of these countries were caught in the conflict zone.

==Response==
Indian Navy Task Force 54, consisting of three warships and a fleet tanker, was returning to India from the [[Mediterranean]] following a goodwill visit and was just about to cross the [[Suez Canal]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.indembassyathens.gr/Defence/NOTE_INDIAN%20NAVAL%20SHIPS.htm|date = 2006-07-13|title = Indian naval ships visit to Greece|access-date = 2006-07-27|publisher = Embassy Of India, Athens|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311232808/http://www.indembassyathens.gr/Defence/NOTE_INDIAN%20NAVAL%20SHIPS.htm|archive-date = 2007-03-11}}</ref> Following the hostilities, it was ordered to turn back to help evacuate Indian nationals from Lebanon. The task force comprised the [[destroyer]] {{INS|Mumbai|D62|6}}, the [[frigate]]s {{ship|INS|Brahmaputra|F31|6}}, {{ship|INS|Betwa|F39|6}} and the fleet tanker [[Deepak-class tanker|INS ''Shakti'']].

The plan for the evacuation was for the warships were to take the evacuees to [[Cyprus]], from where chartered [[Air India]] flights would fly them back to India.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1797460.cms|date = 2006-07-23|title = Air-India to fly Indians home from Lebanon|access-date = 2006-07-27|work = The Times Of India}}</ref> The warships were on high alert at [[battle stations]]. The task force's seven helicopters were airborne to detect and intercept any of the belligerent forces mistaking the Indian vessels for their enemy.

''Mumbai'' evacuated 1,495 people to Cyprus, in three sorties on 20, 23 and 26 July. ''Brahmaputra'' and ''Betwa'' evacuated 188 and 254 people, respectively, during a sortie on 23 July. ''Shakti'' was not deployed for a front-line evacuation since that vessel was more vulnerable without rapid reaction defence systems and less manoeuvrable. However, the support ship helped provide fuel and provisions for the evacuees on board the other ships during the operation.

Altogether a total of 2,280 people including 1,764 Indians were evacuated.<ref name="cities.expressindia.com">{{cite news|url = http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=196437|date = 2006-08-11|title = After rescuing thousands, ships return|access-date = 2006-08-14|publisher = Mumbai Newsline}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9072|date = 2006-07-28|title = Indian Navy evacuates 1,869 from Lebanon|access-date = 2006-07-29|publisher = Telugu Portal}}</ref> 112 Sri Lankans, 64 Nepalese and seven Lebanese nationals with Indian spouses were also among the evacuees. Citizens of other friendly nations at risk were also evacuated as a courtesy. This was one of the largest evacuation operations conducted by the Indian Navy since [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=310402&sid=NAT|date = 2006-07-20|title = Indian Navy pulls out 700 Indians from Lebanon|access-date = 2006-07-27|publisher = Zee News}}</ref>

After the evacuation, the task force remained on station in international waters off Lebanon, monitoring the conflict, and ensuring the safety of remaining Indian nationals in Lebanon. The vessels left for their home ports on 10 August 2006.<ref name="cities.expressindia.com"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukoon}}
[[Category:2006 Lebanon War]]
[[Category:Humanitarian military operations]]
[[Category:Non-combat military operations involving India]]
[[Category:2006 in India]]
[[Category:Evacuations of Indians]]
[[Category:Airlifts]]

Operation Sukoon - Revision history

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185.32.177.55: Undid revision 1032414352 by 2409:4050:D80:D449:CCB4:E79E:EBB5:7DA0 (talk) WP:Overlink