 "Pakistan fires Fatah-II missiles, drones, India hits 6 airbases: What happened on the second night of battle")
The standoff between India and Pakistan continues for a fourth straight day. Under the cover of darkness on Friday (May 9), Islamabad once again resorted to a drone and missile attack, targeting 26 sites across India.
In turn, New Delhi retaliated to the series of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan, with Islamabad reporting that three of its airbases, Nur Khan base, Mureed base, and Shorkot, had been attacked. There were also reports that blasts were heard at Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s military headquarters.
Amidst the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the White House said that US President Donald Trump wants India and Pakistan to “de-escalate” and Secretary of State Rubio is in constant communication with the leaders of both countries.
Catch live updates from the India-Pakistan ongoing tensions here
But what exactly took place in the middle of the night and the wee hours of Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know.
1) On late Friday night, Pakistan once again initiated a drone and missile attack on India — similar to what they did the previous night. Multiple drones were intercepted and shot down by air defence systems deployed by the Indian military.
2) However, three members of a family were injured in a Pakistani drone attack in Punjab’s Ferozepur with local authorities stating that one of them is critical. “We received information about three people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army,” Ferozepur police officer Bhupinder Singh Sidhu told news agency ANI.
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View All3) The Indian Army reported that drones had been sighted at 26 locations across the country, ranging from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir to Bhuj in Gujarat, along the International Border and the Line of Control.
4) It was reported that at least 15 drone sightings were reported from Amritsar. Most of these drones were neutralised as a red alert was sounded in the city. Similarly, at least nine drones were shot down in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.
5) In Rajasthan’s Barmer, authorities shot down one Pakistani drone with reports coming in that Islamabad even targeted Pokhran with its drones.
6) Notably, Pakistan also resorted to heavy cross-border firing along different locations at the Line of Control. In Jammu, officials stated that Islamabad had resorted to unprovoked shelling for a second consecutive day.
7) Baramulla in north Kashmir was subjected to heavy shelling by Pakistan. Explosions were heard in the area as Baramulla was put under complete blackout. Heavy artillery underway along LoC in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
8) In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also announced the demise of an administrative official. He posted on X, “Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday, he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district and attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pakistan shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock & sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace.”
9) As Pakistan continued its drone attack in the country, India also announced that it had shut down temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for civil aircraft operations. Until Friday evening, India had shut down 24 airports for civilian flight activity.
➡️ Temporary Suspension of Civil Flight Operations at Select Airports and Air Routes
— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 9, 2025
➡️ The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and relevant aviation authorities have issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and… pic.twitter.com/MZEfbI1YkJ
10) Then in the early hours of Saturday, around 4.30 am, loud explosions were reported from Jammu. The city has been under a complete blackout. Similarly, an explosion was also heard in Udhampur’s Dibber area. News agency ANI showed smoke rising and air sirens going off.
#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir | Smoke is seen rising after a loud explosion from Dibber area, Udhampur. Air Sirens are being played. pic.twitter.com/UcUrdRb4Pt
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2025
11) Punjab’s Pathankot also reported explosion-like sounds around 5 am but have not yet been officially acknowledged by authorities.
12) In retaliation to the overnight activity of Pakistan, it has been reported that India hit back. Islamabad has claimed that India fired missiles at six air bases, including one close to the capital, Islamabad, but their air defences intercepted most of them. “India through its planes, launched air to surface missiles… Nur Khan base, Mureed base, and Shorkot base were made targets,” Pakistan military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a late-night televised statement, per Reuters.
13) Following this, Pakistan announced that it was launching a military operation, named Bunyan ul Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military installations. The operation’s name is drawn from a verse of the Holy Quran, which means “a wall constructed of molten lead”, symbolising strength, solidarity, and impenetrability.
14) India’s government officials stated that as part of its Bunyan ul Marsoos operation, Islamabad had fired a Fatah-II missile, but it was intercepted in Haryana’s Sirsa. The surface-to-air-missile has a range of around 400 km.
15) Visuals of the Indian Army destroying Pakistani posts and terrorist launch pads from where tube launched drones were being launched have also been released.
With inputs from agencies
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