Satellite images hint India struck Pakistan’s nuclear-linked Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor: Report

More than two months after India denied striking Pakistan’s sensitive nuclear-linked Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor, new satellite imagery analysed by geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon appears to contradict the official stance. The visuals show evidence of a missile strike and damage at the facility.

Fresh images from Google Earth, captured in June 2025, indicate an impact site in the Kirana Hills region of Pakistan’s Sargodha district. Symon, who analysed the data, shared the findings on X, pointing out visible damage at the suspected strike location. He also highlighted signs of recently repaired runways at the nearby Sargodha airbase, suggesting it, too, sustained damage during the operation.

Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows -

1 - the impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025
2 - repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025 pic.twitter.com/BLOXYB9fKP

— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) July 18, 2025

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India launched Operation Sindoor on the night of May 9–10 in retaliation for the killing of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The Indian Air Force reportedly targeted several high-value Pakistani military sites in the operation.

Kirana Hills is a high-security area believed to be part of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons infrastructure. It reportedly houses underground storage facilities and was a site for subcritical nuclear tests in the 1980s. Its strategic value is amplified by the presence of radar stations, military tunnels, and its close proximity to the Sargodha (now Mushaf) airbase.

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When asked about Kirana Hills at a press briefing on May 12, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal A.K. Bharti responded with a hint of sarcasm: “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday.” His peculiar smile while answering the question sparked speculation online, with the clip going viral across social media platforms.

The satellite imagery also showed that runways at the Sargodha airbase had been quickly repaired, reinforcing its status as a high-priority strategic site. The damage suggested a direct hit during the Indian strikes.

During the strike, India reportedly launched around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision-guided munitions. The operation damaged 11 out of Pakistan’s 13 major airbases, severely impacting its air defence and military infrastructure.

The scale of the damage revealed in the imagery suggests that the Pakistani military was caught off guard and may have been forced to seek an immediate ceasefire through Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level talks to prevent further escalation.