Operation Safe Homecoming
Encyclopedia
Operation Safe Homecoming was an operation launched by India
to evacuate its nationals, who were fleeing from the 2011 Libyan civil war
. It was a combination of an air and sea-bridge which was to be conducted by the Indian Navy
and Air India
. The last time the Indian government had launched such an evacuation was during the 2006 Lebanon War when the Indian Navy and Air India were used under Operation Sukoon
. Prior to this, India had evacuated 111,711 of its nationals after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
in 1990.
n state of Libya
against the government and its leader Muammar Gaddafi
. The social unrest began on 15 February 2011 and has since become a widespread uprising that continued until 23 October 2011. Inspiration for the unrest is attributed to the uprisings in Tunisia
and Egypt
, connecting it with the wider Arab Spring
. According to Richard Engel, NBC News
Chief Foreign Correspondent, who entered Libya and had 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." On 22 February, The Economist
described the events as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling autocrat." Gaddafi blamed the uprising on al-Qaeda
and "drugged kids".
and the temporary closure of all Libyan ports. Consequently, many international flights, including those of British Airways
, were cancelled, although others appeared to operate. Further reports indicate that Libyan harbours in many cities were closed.
India therefore ordered three Indian Navy ships, two destroyers the INS Mysore
, Aditya
along with its largest amphibious vessel, INS Jalashwa
to sail from Mumbai
on 26 February to Libya. It also chartered the 1,200-seater MV Scotia Prince and the 1,600 seater La Superba, 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 on 28 February. The navy and charter ships evacuated passengers from Tripoli and Benghazi to Alexandria, Egypt, from there Air India aircraft flew the passengers to India. The navy ships reached the Libya coast by 8 March 2011, but they were not used since much of the evacuation had already been carried out by chartered ships and aircraft. The Indian Government announced that evacuation will not cost anything to its nationals.
After Libyan authorities gave India permission to land in Tripoli, two Air India
aircraft, a Boeing 747
and an Airbus 330, flew 500 passengers directly to New Delhi
and Mumbai
from Tripoli. Additional landing rights were requested for operating flights from Sabha, where about 1,000 of its nationals were awaiting evacuation. Additionally India was given permission to land its aircraft at Sirte and Sabha where there were 2,000 Indians awaiting evacuation. Additionally, on 2 March, the Indian Government ordered all private airlines to fly one flight each to Libya, two airlines Jet Airways
and Kingfisher Airlines
started flying from 3 March, they flew Indian nationals ferried to Malta
from the airport at Valetta. On 3 March, an Il-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force was pressed into service to fly out the Indians to Cairo from Sirte.
Several Indian nationals were crossing Libya into neighbouring countries via the land route. Some of them reached Salloum, Egypt
from Tobruk
and were met at the border by Indian embassy officials who arranged their onward journey to Mumbai on an international airline. Similarly 88 nationals crossed over via Ras Ajdir into Tunisia
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to evacuate its nationals, who were fleeing from the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. It was a combination of an air and sea-bridge which was to be conducted by the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
and Air India
Air India
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India. It is part of the government of India owned Air India Limited . The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Its corporate office is located at the Air India Building at Nariman...
. The last time the Indian government had launched such an evacuation was during the 2006 Lebanon War when the Indian Navy and Air India were used under Operation Sukoon
Operation Sukoon
Operation Sukoon was an operation launched by the Indian Navy to evacuate Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepalese nationals, as well as Lebanese nationals with Indian spouses, from the conflict zone during the 2006 Lebanon War.....
. Prior to this, India had evacuated 111,711 of its nationals after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
in 1990.
Prelude
The 2011 Libyan civil war began as a series of protests and confrontations occurring in the North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n state of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
against the government and its leader Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
. The social unrest began on 15 February 2011 and has since become a widespread uprising that continued until 23 October 2011. Inspiration for the unrest is attributed to the uprisings in Tunisia
Tunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
and Egypt
2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
, connecting it with the wider Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
. According to Richard Engel, NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
Chief Foreign Correspondent, who entered Libya and had reached the city of Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
on 22 February, "the protest movement is no longer a protest movement, it's a war. It's open revolt." On 22 February, The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
described the events as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling autocrat." Gaddafi blamed the uprising on al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and "drugged kids".
The Operation
There are 18,000 Indian nationals working in Libya who were trapped because of the unrest. Evacuation appeared to be difficult due to "chaos" at the central airport in Tripoli as well as a "destroyed" runway at Benina International AirportBenina International Airport
Benina International Airport serves Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International...
and the temporary closure of all Libyan ports. Consequently, many international flights, including those of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, were cancelled, although others appeared to operate. Further reports indicate that Libyan harbours in many cities were closed.
India therefore ordered three Indian Navy ships, two destroyers the INS Mysore
INS Mysore (D60)
INS Mysore is a Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer currently in active service with the Indian Navy.-History:INS Mysore was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. Her keel was laid down in February 1991 and she was launched on 4 June 1993...
, Aditya
INS Aditya (A59)
INS Aditya is an Aditya class replenishment and repair ship currently in service with the Indian Navy. As there is only one ship in this class, INS Aditya is the lead ship...
along with its largest amphibious vessel, INS Jalashwa
INS Jalashwa
INS Jalashwa is an amphibious transport dock currently in service with the Indian Navy. Formerly the , she was procured from the United States by India for USD 48 million. She was commissioned on 22 June 2007....
to sail from Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
on 26 February to Libya. It also chartered the 1,200-seater MV Scotia Prince and the 1,600 seater La Superba, 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 on 28 February. The navy and charter ships evacuated passengers from Tripoli and Benghazi to Alexandria, Egypt, from there Air India aircraft flew the passengers to India. The navy ships reached the Libya coast by 8 March 2011, but they were not used since much of the evacuation had already been carried out by chartered ships and aircraft. The Indian Government announced that evacuation will not cost anything to its nationals.
After Libyan authorities gave India permission to land in Tripoli, two Air India
Air India
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India. It is part of the government of India owned Air India Limited . The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Its corporate office is located at the Air India Building at Nariman...
aircraft, a Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and an Airbus 330, flew 500 passengers directly to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
from Tripoli. Additional landing rights were requested for operating flights from Sabha, where about 1,000 of its nationals were awaiting evacuation. Additionally India was given permission to land its aircraft at Sirte and Sabha where there were 2,000 Indians awaiting evacuation. Additionally, on 2 March, the Indian Government ordered all private airlines to fly one flight each to Libya, two airlines Jet Airways
Jet Airways
Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,...
and Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines is an airline group based in India. Its head office is Kingfisher House in Vile Parle , Mumbai. Kingfisher Airlines, through its parent company United Breweries Group, has a 50% stake in low-cost carrier Kingfisher Red....
started flying from 3 March, they flew Indian nationals ferried to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
from the airport at Valetta. On 3 March, an Il-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force was pressed into service to fly out the Indians to Cairo from Sirte.
Several Indian nationals were crossing Libya into neighbouring countries via the land route. Some of them reached Salloum, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
from Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
and were met at the border by Indian embassy officials who arranged their onward journey to Mumbai on an international airline. Similarly 88 nationals crossed over via Ras Ajdir into Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
.