India Repels Pakistani Strike on 15 Cities, Neutralises Lahore's Air Defence in Precision Response

India Repels Pakistani Strike on 15 Cities, Neutralises Lahore's Air Defence in Precision Response

In Short:

• India thwarts Pakistani drone and missile strike on 15 military targets.

• Lahore’s Chinese-made HQ-9 air defence system destroyed by Israeli kamikaze drones.

• S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ system and C-UAS grid played a decisive role in neutralisation.

• Operation Sindoor struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, triggering Pakistani retaliation.

• Pakistan confirms one civilian killed and four soldiers injured; multiple airports temporarily shut.

In a sharp escalation of hostilities, the Indian Armed Forces successfully repelled a large-scale Pakistani drone and missile attack targeting military bases across 15 Indian cities. The attempted strike came just a day after India launched Operation Sindoor, destroying multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

S-400 and Counter-UAS Grid Crush Incoming Threats

India’s Ministry of Defence reported that Pakistani drones and missiles were intercepted and neutralised using the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid in coordination with the Russia-made S-400 'Sudarshan Chakra' air defence system. With its 600-km detection range and multi-target engagement capabilities, the S-400 played a pivotal role in preventing any major damage or loss of life.

The Pakistani attack, launched on the intervening night of May 7–8, targeted installations in Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

Indian Forces Strike Back, Neutralise Lahore Air Defence

In retaliation, India launched precision strikes against Pakistani air defence infrastructure. According to sources, Israeli-made HARPY kamikaze drones hit and disabled Chinese-developed HQ-9 missile defence systems, particularly neutralising the key air defence setup in Lahore. These systems were located near the Lahore Army Cantonment and its central business district.

While Pakistan claimed it downed 12 drones and reported one crash near Lahore, Indian intelligence confirmed the destruction of key radar and missile units. Four Pakistani soldiers were reportedly injured in Lahore, and one civilian died in Miano, Sindh.

Flight operations were suspended temporarily at Lahore, Sialkot, and Karachi airports due to the heightened security threat, though no civilian infrastructure damage was reported in India’s retaliatory actions.

Operation Sindoor: Targeting Terror, Not Civilians

India's pre-emptive Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror launch pads affiliated with banned outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The operation involved Rafale jets executing air-to-surface missile strikes, complemented by surface-to-surface missiles from the Indian Army. Over 100 terrorists were reportedly killed, with high-value targets eliminated in both Pakistan and PoK.

India emphasized that the mission avoided civilian areas and military infrastructure, demonstrating a deliberate effort to prevent collateral damage. Nonetheless, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the strikes as an "act of war," despite India providing visual proof of terrorist infrastructure being the focus.

Utter chaos in Lahore after drone strike at Walton Road which leads to Lahore cantonment. People out on streets in panic. Asim Munir's Jihadist policies have invited war to Pakistan's streets. pic.twitter.com/1195BQxlhf

— Divya Kumar Soti (@DivyaSoti) May 8, 2025

Escalation at the Line of Control

As tensions peaked, Pakistan initiated heavy artillery and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the tragic deaths of 16 Indian civilians, including three women and five children. India was compelled to respond in kind to halt the barrage.

The Indian government reiterated its stance on de-escalation, stating:

“The Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation—provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.”

Conclusion:
India’s multi-layered defence strategy—blending Russian, Israeli, and indigenous technologies—has effectively countered Pakistan’s latest offensive. The dismantling of Lahore’s air defence system marks a significant tactical achievement and sends a clear message about India’s preparedness to respond with precision and restraint.