New Delhi: In a significant escalation, air defence units of the Pakistan Army in Sialkot and Lahore have suffered heavy damage amid reports of coordinated Indian drone and missile strikes in at least 10 Pakistani cities on May 8, according to sources. The strikes reportedly targeted Pakistan’s HQ-9 missile defence systems, developed by China, leaving key cities including Lahore, Sialkot, and one more location vulnerable and defenceless.
The escalation comes in the wake of missile debris found in Makhan Windi, a village near Amritsar, sparking concerns of cross-border aggression. Locals reported multiple explosions past midnight, and Army units quickly cordoned off the area where debris was discovered.
“This morning, Indian Armed Forces targeted air defence radars and systems across several locations in Pakistan. The response matched Pakistan’s prior aggression in both domain and intensity. It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system in Lahore has been neutralised,” said an official statement issued by the Indian government.
Official Statement from the Ministry of Defence – Operation SINDOOR
During the Press Briefing on Operation SINDOOR on 07 May 2025, India had called its response as focused, measured, and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.
On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage multiple military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. Debris of these attacks is being recovered from multiple sites confirming Pakistani aggression.
On the morning of 08 May 2025, Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems in a number of locations in Pakistan. The Indian response has matched the domain and intensity of Pakistan’s aggression. It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system in Lahore has been neutralised.
Pakistan has increased unprovoked firing across the LoC using mortars and heavy artillery in areas of Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri.
Sixteen innocent lives have been lost in India, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani shelling. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring the mortar and artillery fire to a halt.
The Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.
The situation remains tense, with Pakistan intensifying unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) using mortars and heavy artillery in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, the statement added.
In Lahore, residents were jolted by three powerful explosions in quick succession in the upscale Gulberg area. Panic gripped the city as residents rushed out of their homes. The blasts were reportedly heard several kilometres away.
Lahore Police confirmed that the explosions occurred moments apart and caused widespread alarm. Emergency teams, including bomb disposal units and intelligence agencies, have secured the area and launched a detailed investigation, reported ARY News.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has temporarily suspended flight operations at airports in Lahore, Sialkot, and Karachi. As per reports, Lahore and Sialkot airports will remain shut until 12 PM on May 8 (local time).
Dubbed “Operation Sindoor Phase 2,” India’s precision strikes have not only dismantled terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) but also dealt a major blow to the credibility of Chinese-made air defence systems in the region.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly employed French-origin SCALP cruise missiles, launched from Rafale fighter jets, to hit nine identified terror hubs. Notably, none of the missiles were intercepted by Pakistan’s HQ-9 or LY-80 (HQ-16) systems, both of which failed to detect or counter the incoming attacks.
The SCALP missile, with a range of over 500 km, stealth features, and low-altitude flight capabilities, effectively bypassed Pakistan’s air defences, exposing critical vulnerabilities in systems procured from China.
