High-resolution satellite imagery has confirmed the precision of India’s airstrike on Pakistan’s Murid Airbase, conducted on May 10, 2025, during Operation Sindoor. The mission was launched in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives and was traced by Indian authorities to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Imagery from Maxar Technologies provided by NDTV, analyzed by geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon of The Intel Lab, shows a major munition crater just 30 meters from the entrance of a suspected underground facility at Murid. This level of precision suggests a deliberate strategy by India to signal capability without crossing the threshold into full-scale war. Analysts interpret the strike as a calibrated message targeting strategic assets while avoiding direct hits on highly sensitive military infrastructure.
Murid Airbase serves as a critical hub for Pakistan’s combat drone operations and was among eight airbases hit by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. This followed India’s earlier May 7 airstrikes on terror launchpads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). These operations marked a sharp escalation in response to cross-border terrorism, prompting Pakistan to suspend the Simla Agreement, close its airspace, and restrict trade with India.
Symon’s work in open-source intelligence (OSINT) has played a pivotal role in cutting through disinformation about the conflict. His findings, widely cited by Indian media have countered Pakistani claims of minimal damage. His annotations of the satellite imagery suggest the targeted site at Murid may be linked to missile guidance or command systems, possibly part of a larger weapons infrastructure with final assembly at Nur Khan Airbase.
Though India has officially maintained strategic silence regarding the full scope of the damage, the release of satellite imagery affirms the effectiveness of its precision airstrike capabilities. By not publicizing detailed assessments, India is believed to be preserving its diplomatic options while demonstrating military readiness.
The airstrike on Murid Airbase underscores the growing relevance of satellite-based verification and OSINT in modern warfare. As regional tensions persist, global attention remains fixed on South Asia, with increasing international calls for restraint and dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
