New Delhi, May 29 -- The Government of India on Friday launched a highly coordinated, priority operation to safely guide 13 Indian-flagged commercial vessels out of the volatile Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways announced on Friday.

The emergency maritime extraction is part of a massive, multi-ministry effort to safeguard Indian citizens and economic assets as geopolitical conflict worsens across West Asia and the Gulf region. Simultaneously, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an urgent directive strongly advising all Indian nationals to completely avoid travelling to Iran, while urging those already inside the country to evacuate immediately.

Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director of the Ministry of Port...