Operation Raahat

Operation Raahat
Indian Navy · GODL-India · source
Name	Operation Raahat
Partof	2015 Yemeni Civil War
Date	1–11 April 2015
Place	Aden, Sana'a, Djibouti, International waters of the Arabian Sea
Result	Evacuation of Indian and foreign nationals; humanitarian assistance
Commanders	Manohar Parrikar; Akhilesh Yadav; Naveen Patnaik
Strength	Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Coast Guard

Operation Raahat Operation Raahat was a 2015 Indian military and humanitarian evacuation and rescue operation conducted during the Yemeni Civil War to extract Indian citizens and foreign nationals from conflict zones in Yemen. Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (India) and executed by the Indian Armed Forces, the operation involved naval, air, and diplomatic coordination to evacuate thousands from Aden, Sana'a, and surrounding areas. The mission was widely covered alongside responses by states such as United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

Background

By early 2015, the Houthi insurgency in Yemen had intensified, contributing to the wider Yemeni Crisis (2011–present). The collapse of the Yemen Cabinet and clashes between the Houthi movement and forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi prompted regional intervention, notably the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present), which began aerial campaigns. The deterioration of security affected foreign diplomatic missions including those of India, United States Department of State, United Kingdom Foreign Office, and Embassy of Japan in Yemen, compelling multiple states to plan evacuations similar to past operations such as Operation Sukoon and Operation Safe Homecoming.

Evacuation Planning and Execution

The Ministry of External Affairs (India) coordinated with the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Indian Army to prepare evacuation manifests and logistical plans. Diplomats at the Embassy of India in Sana'a and the Consulate General of India in Dubai liaised with counterparts from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia to repatriate stranded nationals. The plan included airlifts from Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, sea evacuations to INS Sumitra and INS Mumbai, and helicopter extractions using platforms associated with Western Naval Command (India) and Southern Naval Command (India). Evacuees were processed at staging points such as Port of Aden and Aden International Airport before onward movement to Mundra Port and Mumbai.

Forces and Assets Involved

Assets included warships and support vessels from the Indian Navy like INS Chennai, INS Tarkash, and INS Mysore, as well as logistics vessels and Indian Coast Guard cutters. Air assets comprised Bharat Electronics Limited-equipped C-17 Globemaster III aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force, C-130J Super Hercules transports, and rotary-wing assets from IAF helicopter units. The operation drew on coordination with the Naval Headquarters (India), Western Air Command (India), and civilian agencies including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) and Air India for passenger movement. International cooperation involved ports and airspace of Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, and Seychelles.

Timeline of Key Events

1 April 2015: Escalation of hostilities in Aden triggered notices from the Embassy of India in Sana'a and activation of contingency plans prepared after the 2011 Yemeni uprising. 2–4 April 2015: Indian naval vessels INS Sumitra and INS Mumbai were deployed from Karwar and Mumbai (city), while C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Super Hercules sorties began from Hindon Air Force Station and Charleston Air Force Base-linked logistics hubs. 5–7 April 2015: Helicopter evacuations from Port of Aden and airlifts from Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport moved evacuees to Djibouti and India; coordination with the Saudi Arabian-led coalition ensured deconfliction. 8–11 April 2015: Final waves transported remaining Indian nationals and citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Syria, Ethiopia, and Somalia to safety; naval task groups conducted humanitarian assistance and medical aid.

Casualties, Losses, and Humanitarian Impact

There were limited military casualties among Indian forces; primary losses were logistical and operational strain on troop rotations and naval maintenance. Civilian casualties in Yemen during this period were documented by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The evacuation reduced immediate civilian exposure to hostilities for thousands, including migrant workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The operation also highlighted vulnerabilities in expatriate communities from Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka during the Middle East migrant crisis.

Political and Diplomatic Reactions

Indian political leadership including Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj received domestic support for the operation, which drew attention from the United Nations Security Council and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Regional actors such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, and international actors including United States Department of Defense, Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and European Union institutions issued statements on evacuation corridors. Parliamentary debates in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha referenced precedents like Operation Cactus and diplomatic crisis management protocols.

Aftermath and Legacy

The operation was cited as a case study in expeditionary evacuation, enhancing doctrine in the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force for non-combatant evacuation operations. It influenced subsequent policy discussions within the Ministry of External Affairs (India) and shaped bilateral dialogues with Djibouti, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates over port access and overflight rights. The operation reinforced public perceptions of India's capacity for rapid maritime and airlift response, informing later humanitarian responses in regions affected by crises such as Libya, Syria, and Nepal earthquake, 2015.

Category:2015 in India Category:Evacuations Category:Yemeni Civil War