As the Israel-Lebanon conflict intensified in July 2006, large numbers of foreigners to the region were desperately seeking to leave the conflict zone. India too had a sizeable number of its citizens in this hot zone and thus the Indian Navy single-handedly undertook the largest, post-Independence, civilian-evacuation operation at Beirut (Lebanon) from 21 - 23 July 2006. Four Indian Naval vessels — INS Mumbai, INS Betwa, INS Brahmaputra and INS Shakti — all under the tactical command of Rear Admiral Anup Singh (Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet), successfully evacuated a total of 1495 stranded Indian, Sri Lankan, Nepalese and Lebanese nationals and were brought to safety, to the port of Larnaca in south-east Cyprus. From there they boarded airliners and headed to their final destination - home.

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