Indian warships sail into Beirut

The warships, anchored off Lebanese coast, will move Indians and shift them to camps in Larnaca in Cyprus.

Joining the surge of foreigners fleeing war-torn Lebanon, thousands of Indians living in that country, on Wednesday gathered at Beirut jetty as four Indian warships sailed into the harbour to evacuate them to safety.

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Over 1,000 Indians assembled at the jetty as Israeli operations against Hezbollah militia intensified in Lebanon.

The warships -- INS Mumbai, INS Betwa, INS Brahmaputra and auxiliary tanker INS Shakti -- anchored overnight off the Lebanese coast, moved into the port to pull out the anxious Indian nationals and shift them to camps in Larnaca in Cyprus, Navy sources said.

"The Israelis, who have mounted a sea and air blockade off the Lebanese capital, have allowed the Indian warships to berth at the jetty to evacuate the stranded Indians", they said.