In a swift and calculated air campaign on May 10, the Indian Air Force (IAF) neutralized Pakistan’s offensive capabilities within hours, forcing Islamabad to seek urgent US intervention for a ceasefire. Using a combination of advanced SCALP and Brahmos missiles, the IAF executed four precision strikes that crippled Pakistan’s key airbases, defense systems, and air assets. The retaliation to India’s earlier “Operation Sindoor” – dubbed “Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos” by Pakistan – collapsed in less than nine hours, with Indian forces asserting full control over the aerial battlefront.
Coordinated Strikes with Brahmos and SCALP Missiles
According to sources familiar with the operation, Indian Rafale jets launched SCALP missiles and SU-30 MKI fighters deployed Brahmos missiles in a joint attack that targeted critical Pakistani infrastructure. The first wave of strikes on the Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala, which houses Pakistan’s Northern Air Command, took out command-control systems in a matter of minutes.
Subsequent strikes were launched on Bholari and Jacobabad airbases, effectively dismantling Pakistan’s ability to coordinate air defenses or mount a counter-offensive. The final wave left Islamabad scrambling diplomatically. Despite initial threats of a 48-hour offensive on Indian airbases, intercepted communication revealed that Pakistan’s operation had collapsed by 9:30 am the same day.
Missile Defense and Naval Readiness
India’s S-400 air defense system, stationed at Adampur, played a critical role during the operations. It intercepted and destroyed Pakistan’s SAAB-2000 airborne early warning aircraft nearly 315 kilometers inside enemy territory. Additionally, Indian intelligence and surveillance confirmed the destruction of a C-130J transport aircraft, a JF-17 fighter jet, and two F-16s either on the ground or during dogfights.
The Indian Navy was also on high alert, with a strike group advancing to within 260 miles of the Makran coast, ready to target Karachi Naval Port. While Pakistan’s military warned of retaliation if Brahmos missiles were used on the naval base, the Indian leadership remained unshaken. However, by afternoon, the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations reached out for a no-fire pact, signaling Islamabad’s urgent need to de-escalate.
On the same day, India used HARPY kamikaze drones to destroy a Chinese-made LY-80 air defense system in Lahore and a HQ-9 (S-300 equivalent) system at Karachi’s Malir base, further weakening Pakistan’s aerial shield.
The events of May 10 underscored India’s precision strike capabilities and left Pakistan’s retaliatory plans in disarray, ending the confrontation within hours of its initiation.
