Operation Sindoor : Indian Forces Destroy Air Defence System in Lahore, Confirms Army
Widespread Strikes Across Pakistan
Following the midnight strikes on May 6 that decimated nine terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and inside Pakistan, the latest wave of attacks on May 8 focused on strategic air defence units located in Lahore, Sialkot, and other key cities.
The Chinese-made HQ-9 missile defence system, a vital component of Pakistan's aerial defence capabilities, was reportedly neutralized by precision drone strikes. In addition to Lahore, drone and missile attacks were reported in multiple Pakistani cities including Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, Miyano, and Attock.
Pakistan's Retaliatory Attempt Foiled
Late Wednesday night, Pakistan reportedly attempted to retaliate by launching drone and missile attacks targeting key Indian military bases in North and Western India. These included areas such as Awantipora, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.
However, India’s robust air defence systems successfully intercepted and neutralized the incoming threats, averting damage and civilian casualties.
Government Confirms Military Action
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Defence issued an official statement on Thursday morning confirming the retaliatory strikes.
"Today, i.e. on the morning of May 8, Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at multiple locations inside Pakistan. India responded with equal force to Pakistan’s attempts to escalate the situation. According to verified intelligence, an air defence system in Lahore has been destroyed,” the statement read.
Significance of the Strike
Military analysts believe that destroying a Chinese-supplied missile defence system within Pakistan signals not only India's military capability but also serves as a strategic warning. The move significantly weakens Pakistan’s ability to defend against aerial incursions and shifts the balance in India's favour in the ongoing conflict.
Operation Sindoor, which began as a response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, is now being seen as a coordinated military campaign to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and disable Pakistan's retaliatory capabilities. Further developments are expected in the coming days.