Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strikes Devastate Key Pakistani Airbases

In a powerful military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting strategic terror and military infrastructure deep inside Pakistan. Over four days, the Indian armed forces struck multiple high-value sites, including air bases and terror camps, inflicting severe damage and forcing Pakistan to seek a ceasefire by May 11.

High-resolution satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, accessed by Indian media outlets, confirmed the devastating impact of India's precision strikes. Among the hardest-hit were six major Pakistani Air Force (PAF) airbases: Jacobabad, Bholari, Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Nur Khan (Chaklala), and Mushaf (Sargodha). Each site showed significant structural damage — including craters on runways, destroyed hangars, burnt vegetation, and damaged military vehicles.

Jacobabad Air Base, located about 200 km from the India-Pakistan border, had its aircraft hangar struck. The May 11 satellite image revealed debris around the site, contrasting with the intact structure seen on April 30. Jacobabad is strategically important, housing JF-17 Block II jets and F-16 variants, and also hosts maintenance support for American aircraft.

Bholari Air Base, one of Pakistan’s newest operational bases since 2017, was also targeted. The hangar, possibly storing advanced jets like the JF-17 Thunder and F-16s, suffered extensive roof damage. Satellite imagery captured between April 27 and May 11 clearly shows the transformation from an undisturbed site to a bombed-out structure.

Sukkur Air Base, also a dual-use civilian airport, saw substantial damage. A May 10 image revealed debris, a scarred landscape, and vegetation burns — likely from secondary fires post-strike. Operated by Pakistan's Southern Air Command, this base is located west of Rajasthan and serves both civilian and military functions.

Nur Khan Air Base, situated near Islamabad and Rawalpindi, is a high-value strategic location that houses PAF’s transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and Ilyushin Il-78 refuellers. Though this base wasn’t cratered like others, the satellite images revealed damaged military transport vehicles. This base has historical significance too, having been targeted during the 1971 war by the Indian Air Force.

Rahim Yar Khan Air Base, located in southern Punjab, received a direct runway hit. The result was a massive 43-foot-wide crater, which led to flight operations being suspended for a week. Satellite imagery revealed widespread debris around the site, marking it as one of the most heavily damaged locations.

Mushaf Air Base in Sargodha, known as the crown jewel of the PAF, sustained two major strikes on its runways. The satellite images from May 10 revealed one crater around 15 feet in radius and another at 10 feet, disabling runway operations. This base is home to advanced jets like F-16s, Mirage 5, Chengdu J-7, and training centers such as the Combat Commanders' School.

In addition to airbases, radar installations at Pasrur and Sialkot were targeted with precision munitions. Indian forces also destroyed multiple terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing over 100 terrorists from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Following these surgical strikes, Pakistan attempted retaliatory drone and missile strikes across 26 locations in India, all of which were effectively intercepted. After intense hostilities, a ceasefire agreement was reached by Saturday, May 11, ending one of the most intense cross-border escalations in recent years.

Operation Sindoor showcases India’s enhanced strategic capabilities, use of high-precision munitions, and robust intelligence coordination — marking a significant shift in the regional power balance.