New Delhi: Pakistan's Murid Air Base suffered extensive damage in the Indian strikes as part of Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 9 and 10. High-resolution images, accessed by NDTV, show a three-metre-wide crater at the air base This crater was reportedly 30 metres from a suspected underground facility of the Pakistan Air Force.
Damage to the rooftop of a structure next to the unmanned aerial vehicle hangars could also be seen. Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher with Intel Lab, told NDTV that the most guarded complex in the air base was hit in the Indian strikes. For the unversed, Symon is known for his analysis of satellite imagery in monitoring military and infrastructure developments.
"The strike is visible at the most guarded complex within Murid airbase. The approximately three-meter-wide munition impact crater is just 30 meters north of one of the two entrances to a likely underground facility," Symon said as reported by the media house.
Here Are The Satellite Images:
Elaborating further, he said, "This complex is heavily protected with double fencing, its own watchtowers, and access control, indicating its high-value nature as a target. The earth-protected entrances suggest this site might serve as storage for special equipment or as a hardened operational shelter for personnel, capable of withstanding heavy bombardment."
As per Symon, a portion of the building’s roof collapsed inwards. He also noted that the external walls of the structure were showing signs of deterioration.
The Murid air base is located in Pakistan's Chakwal and around 150 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. It reportedly provides support to Pakistan's Sargodha Air Base and Nur Khan Air Base.
Notably, both these air bases were also struck by India on the intervening night of May 9 and 10.
Operation Sindoor:
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In response, Pakistan tried to attack India's civil and defence installations using drones and missiles. However, the Indian air defence thwarted the attack. India on May 9-10 launched airstrikes on 11 Pakistan air bases, inflicting heavy damage.
A ceasefire was agreed between the two countries on May 10 after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted its Indian counterpart.
