Lucknow, June 17 -- Shia religious leader Maulana Saif Abbas on Tuesday appealed to the Union government to evacuate Indian pilgrims "stuck" in Iran and Iraq in the wake of the Israel-Iran conflict.

Speaking to ANI, Maulana Abbas said on Tuesday, "Indian pilgrims who cannot afford to go for Hajj, go to religious sites in Iran and Iraq. In both these countries, our people are stuck there. On 16th June, we wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar appealing to the Government of India to evacuate the pilgrims stuck in Iran and Iraq."

The conflict between Israel and Iran entered the fifth day on Tuesday, with both sides trading missile strikes. Civilians in key areas face waves of attacks. At least 224 people have been killed in Ir...