The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus Assures the Safety of Indonesian Citizens in Syria Amid Rising Conflict

Author: Dian Kencana
December 9, 2024

Anti-regime armed groups of Bashar Al-Assad continued their movement as they captured 20 neighborhoods in the western part of Hama province, Syria, Wednesday (Dec 4, 2020). (ANTARA)

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus has confirmed the safety of all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria amid the intensifying civil war that has reached the Syrian capital.

“All Indonesian citizens in Syria are reported safe,” stated the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus via an Instagram post on Sunday (12/8).

In response to the escalating conflict, the embassy urged Indonesian nationals to stay calm, avoid unnecessary travel, and maintain regular communication with the Indonesian Representative.

For emergencies or urgent assistance, Indonesian citizens are advised to contact the embassy through its hotlines: +963-954-444-810, +963-983-493-246, or +963-983-480-264.

Due to the worsening situation, the embassy declared Alert Level 1, the highest security status, for the entire Syrian territory. Previously, this status only applied to specific regions such as Aleppo and Hama.

Following this declaration, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy conducted a virtual meeting on Saturday (7/12) with the Indonesian community in Syria to provide updates on the security situation and outline contingency plans, including potential evacuations.

Given the evolving conflict, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy, and other Indonesian representatives in the Middle East remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation.

The conflict escalated on Saturday when anti-regime armed groups began entering Damascus from the city’s southern side. By Sunday, opposition forces had seized control after Al-Assad regime forces lost their grip on the capital.

The battle for Damascus marks the final phase of Syria’s civil war, ongoing since 2011. Fighting between regime and opposition forces intensified on November 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo.

The opposition's swift advances overwhelmed the Syrian military, resulting in the loss of key regions, including Idlib and Aleppo on November 30, followed by Hama on December 5.