Around 2.2 lakh passengers, including 550 in Iran, have returned to India from West Asia and the Gulf region since February 28 even as the government continues to assist Indian nationals amid widespread airspace disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict.The Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday that the safety and well-being of Indian nationals remained its highest priority, with Indian missions across the region coordinating evacuations, facilitating transit and providing assistance to stranded citizens.India on Monday also asked its citizens currently in Iran not to approach or attempt to cross any land border for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Indian Embassy in Tehran.Addressing a media briefing here, Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf), said flight operations to India were continuing from several regional airports despite partial closure of airspace in parts of West Asia. “Since February 28, around 2.2 lakh passengers from the region have returned to India,” Mahajan said.Flights are operating from multiple airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to destinations in India, while airspace in Qatar has partially reopened with Qatar Airways expected to operate flights to India over the next two days.However, airspace in Kuwait has remained closed since February 28. Mahajan said special non-scheduled commercial flights by Jazeera Airways were expected to operate to India from Al Qaisumah International Airport in Saudi Arabia.For Indian nationals stranded in countries where airspace remains closed, alternative travel arrangements are being facilitated. Mahajan said transit through Saudi Arabia was being arranged for Indians in Bahrain and Iraq, where flights remain suspended.According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, around 550 Indians had crossed into Armenia through the land border with assistance from the Indian Embassy in Tehran, while about 90 nationals entered Azerbaijan through another land crossing. The group that crossed into Armenia included 284 pilgrims who had travelled to Iran. Some of them have already returned to India, while others are expected to do so in the coming days.Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy in Tehran remained fully operational despite the challenging circumstances and had relocated several Indian students from areas outside the capital to safer locations within the country.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked the government and people of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation. “Thank the government and the people of Armenia for facilitating the safe evacuation of over 550 Indian nationals from Iran so far. Appreciate their support in these challenging times,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.Meanwhile, the ministry confirmed that two Indian nationals were killed in an attack in Sohar city in Oman on March 13. Mahajan said the Embassy of India in Muscat was in constant touch with the families of the deceased and coordinating with Omani authorities for the repatriation of the mortal remains. The embassy is also monitoring the condition of injured Indians in the incident, though none of them are reported to be critically hurt.In Iraq, Indian officials are assisting 15 crew members of the vessel Safesea Vishnu who were safely evacuated and are currently staying at a hotel in Basra. The mission is coordinating with Iraqi authorities for their early return to India and for the repatriation of the mortal remains of a deceased Indian national.