Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher, said the imagery provided by defence ministry confirmed a series of well-executed precision airstrikes in Pakistan.
Satellite imagery released by India’s defence ministry and commercial service providers on Sunday confirmed a series of precision strikes carried out by the Indian side on eight key Pakistani airbases on May 10, hours before the two sides reached an understanding on halting all military actions.
India’s military targeted the eight Pakistani airbases with missiles and other long-range weapons in retaliation for Pakistan’s attempts to strikes 26 military facilities early on May 10, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The Indian strikes exposed the “massive gap” between the technological and military sophistication and application of power by the armed forces of the two sides, the people said.
A satellite image shows Markaz Taiba following airstrikes in Muridke, Pakistan, May 7, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab, said the imagery provided by India’s defence ministry confirmed a series of well-executed precision airstrikes targeting several Pakistani military facilities.
“The strikes appear intentionally designed to neutralise specific military infrastructure while avoiding collateral damage,” Symon said.
At the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, a likely operations-related building and vehicles were “visibly impacted”. Symon said: “The vehicles were destroyed while the building compound showed signs of damage.”
A satellite image shows a closer view of buildings damaged following airstrikes in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, May 7, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
The airstrip at the airbase at Sargodha in Punjab province was hit at two points, likely disabling take-offs and landings until repairs to the runway are completed. The Shahbaz airbase at Jacobabad in Sindh province “suffered a strike on a hangar located adjacent to the ATC tower”, though the traffic control facility remained structurally unharmed, Symon said after analysing the imagery.
At the airbase at Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab province, there was “extensive damage” to the runway, with the “underlying structural layers exposed an indicator of long-term disruption”, Symon said.
Satellite images of the airstrikes.
The people cited above said the facility at Rahim Yar Khan was hit the hardest, with the “runway being totalled”.
At the airbase at Sukkur in Sindh province, a UAV storage depot “endured considerable damage, with roof damage and scattered debris evident”, Symon said.
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on May 8, 2025 using handout satellite images courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah compound on May 2, 2025 (top), and on May 7, 2025 (bottom) after an Indian strike on the outskirts of Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab province. India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier on May 7, after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its arch-rival in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades. (Photo by Handout / Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO/ SATELLITE IMAGE ©2025 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS – THE WATERMARK MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED
In the case of the airbase at Bholari in southern Sindh province, a hangar that is possibly used for airborne early warning systems or maintenance work showed “serious structural impairment with debris scattered all around”, Symon said.
This handout satellite image courtesy of Maxar Technologies taken on May 7, 2025 shows the damaged Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah compound after an Indian strike on the outskirts of Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab province. India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier on May 7, after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its arch-rival in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades. (Photo by Handout / Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO/ SATELLITE IMAGE ©2025 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS – THE WATERMARK MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED
In addition to the strikes on the eight airbases, the satellite imagery showed that the Indian military apparently targeted radar installations that were “likely tied to Pakistan’s early warning and surveillance systems” and this will cause potential disruption to the Pakistan Air Force’s monitoring and operations, he said.
