SOURCE: AFI

On unverified reports surfaced claiming that an Indian Air Force (IAF) IAI Harop loitering munition (LM) targeted a Chinese-made HQ-16 (LY-80) surface-to-air missile (SAM) battery operated by Pakistan’s 4th Air Defence Regiment in Walton, Lahore. The alleged attack reportedly injured four Pakistani Army personnel and damaged at least one truck associated with the missile system, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Unconfirmed Pakistani sources, the strike occurred in a military area in Walton, a busy locality in Lahore, close to the border with India. The HQ-16 battery, a key component of Pakistan’s air defense network, was reportedly the primary target. Images circulating online show a damaged military truck that seems to be Mobile Command Post of the HQ-16 battery, with some reports suggesting an air defense radar may have been destroyed. While it has been confirmed that four soldiers that were part of the crew operating the SAM system were injured, though their conditions as been reported to be non-critical.

SOURCE: AFI

New Delhi, India – In a stunning display of technological prowess and tactical precision, India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, successfully targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) using advanced loitering munitions, including the Bengaluru-manufactured SkyStriker suicide drones and the DRDO-developed Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drone or Loitering Munition System (LMS). The operation, a retaliation for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, saw Indian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) evade Pakistan’s air defence systems, delivering clear live video feeds of all nine strikes while maintaining two-way communications, according to sources familiar with the operation.

The Indian Armed Forces deployed SkyStriker suicide drones, produced through a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Security Systems. Procured by the Indian Army in 2021 following the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, these loitering munitions boast a 100 km range and carry a 5-10 kg warhead, enabling high-precision strikes on designated targets. The SkyStriker, described by Elbit as a cost-effective unmanned aerial system (UAS) that “flies like a drone and strikes like a missile,” was instrumental in silently targeting terror infrastructure, including camps operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.

SOURCE: AFI

The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan has taken a deadly turn, with reports emerging of over 150 casualties inside Pakistan following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a series of missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure on May 7, 2025. However, Pakistan’s military, through its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has significantly downgraded the toll, officially reporting 31 civilian deaths and 57 injuries across six locations struck by Indian forces. The discrepancy in casualty figures, combined with conflicting narratives, has intensified the ongoing crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, raising fears of further escalation.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in retaliation for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir. India’s Defence Ministry stated that the operation targeted nine sites—four in Pakistan’s Punjab province (Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, Shakargarh) and five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh)—aimed at eliminating infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The strikes, involving 80-90 aircraft and advanced weaponry like the BrahMos air-launched missile and SCALP cruise missiles, were described as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities targeted.

SOURCE: AFI

Reports emerged of debris believed to be from a Pakistani LY-80 (HQ-16) surface-to-air missile (SAM) system discovered on the outskirts of Gujranwala, a major city in Punjab province. The wreckage, found in a rural area, has sparked speculation about the cause, ranging from a possible malfunction to an unscheduled test or accident.

Local residents reportedly stumbled upon the debris in a field near [specific location, if known, or general area]. Images circulating on social media platforms, including posts on X, show fragmented metallic components, some bearing markings consistent with military hardware. Preliminary assessments by experts suggest the wreckage aligns with components of the LY-80, a Chinese-designed medium-range SAM system operated by the Pakistan Air Force.

SOURCE: AFI

A photo circulated by several Pakistani social media handles, claiming to show the rear-stabilizer of an Indian Rafale fighter jet allegedly downed by Pakistan during India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, 2025, has been exposed as a fabrication. The image, widely shared on platforms like X, was presented as evidence of Pakistan’s military success in countering Indian airstrikes. However, analysis by multiple sources, including AI-based image detection tools, has confirmed the photo as a human-generated fake, highlighting the role of misinformation in the escalating India-Pakistan conflict.

The controversy emerged amid Pakistan’s claims that its air defence systems shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and an IAI Heron drone, during India’s retaliatory operation targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. ‘Operation Sindoor,’ executed in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, involved 80-90 Indian aircraft deploying BrahMos and SCALP cruise missiles.

SOURCE: AFI

According to report in the Punjab kesari,  a Hindi-language newspaper, local authorities recovered fragments of a missile that crashed into the courtyard of a house in Ghagwal village of Dasuha constituency of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, creating an atmosphere of fear among residents. The object, marked with the identification code “P15E12203039,” and “P15E12203023” is speculated to be part of a PL-15E missile, potentially fired towards an Indian jet. The incident has raised concerns due to the village’s proximity to the international border, located just 50kms from the Closest point to the International border with Pakistan.

Eyewitness Ashok Kumar, a resident of Ghagwal village, recounted the startling event. At approximately 1:30 AM, he was awakened by a loud explosion outside his home. “Something fell from the sky, causing a very loud bang,” Kumar said. When he went to investigate, he discovered a piece of machinery in his courtyard, still emitting smoke and a foul odor. Alarmed, Kumar immediately alerted the local police.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development that has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, an Indian official has reportedly confirmed the use of the BrahMos Air-Launched Version (BMAV) in a cross-border incident, allegedly targeting a suspected Indian drone over Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. The confirmation, shared via a video clip circulating on social media, has sparked widespread debate and raised concerns about escalating military confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The clip, attributed to an Anantha Krishnan M explicitly states, “We used the BrahMos Air Version #BMAV. A great day for all those who have worked tirelessly over the years. One name that comes to mind is Dr Venugopal, the first Project Director of BrahMos AV.” The statement suggests that the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, specifically its air-launched variant, was deployed in the operation, marking a notable milestone for India’s defence capabilities. The official’s remarks also pay tribute to Dr Venugopal, credited as a pioneering figure in the development of the BrahMos air-launched system.

SOURCE: AFI

Pakistan’s media outlets reported that the country’s air defence systems engaged and fired upon an alleged Indian drone in the airspace over Gujranwala, a major city in Punjab province, on the night of [insert date]. This marks the second consecutive night that Pakistan has claimed to detect and respond to an Indian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the region, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

According to local reports, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and air defence units were placed on high alert following the detection of a suspicious object in Pakistani airspace. Sources cited by Pakistani media outlets, including Geo News and Dawn, claimed the object was an Indian drone, allegedly conducting reconnaissance or provocative operations near the border. The air defence systems stationed in Gujranwala reportedly opened fire, though no confirmation has been provided on whether the drone was shot down or escaped.

SOURCE: AFI

A 15-foot-long Brahmos missile Ejectable first state solid propellant booster engine was discovered in a field in Bandhanau village, Bikaner district, Rajasthan, sparking widespread panic and concern among local residents. The debris, found in the field of farmer Ramprasad Joshi, has raised alarm in the region, with villagers reporting a bright flash in the sky followed by a loud explosion late Tuesday night.

According to local media reports, the incident caused an immediate stir in nearby villages, including Momasar, Udrasar, and Suranjasar, where an atmosphere of fear and speculation has taken hold. The missile shell, which appears to be military-grade, was found lying on the sandy terrain of the field, showing signs of impact with visible damage to its structure. The object’s cylindrical shape, metallic components, and sheer size suggest it could be a remnant of a larger missile system, though its exact origin and type remain unconfirmed.

SOURCE: AFI

A CCTV video circulating widely on social media, dated May 8, 2025, has captured what appears to be an Indian air defence missile system, likely the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), engaging and destroying an unidentified aerial target in the night sky near Amritsar, Punjab. The footage, which has sparked intense speculation and debate, comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Neither the Indian Air Force (IAF) nor the Indian Army (IA) has issued an official statement regarding the incident, leaving room for uncertainty and public conjecture.

The grainy but striking CCTV footage shows a bright streak of light, presumed to be a missile, ascending rapidly into the sky before a flash indicates a possible interception of a target. The video, timestamped around 1.03 AM IST, aligns with posts on X that claim the Akash missile system was launched from an airbase in Jalandhar, approximately 80 kilometers from Amritsar.