Recent satellite imagery indicates that an Indian missile struck Pakistan's Kirana Hills in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor. These findings contradict the Indian Air Force's (IAF) earlier denials of targeting the Kirana Hills.
The images, captured by Google Earth in June 2025, were analyzed and shared by Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher, on social media platform X. Symon highlighted the "impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills" and "repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post-India's strikes".
Operation Sindoor was reportedly launched on May 10 in response to the killing of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. India targeted several key Pakistani military installations as part of the operation. It has been reported that the IAF launched around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision weapons on the night of May 9-10, damaging 11 out of Pakistan's 13 major airbases.
Kirana Hills is considered a strategically important and heavily fortified area associated with Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. It is believed to house an underground nuclear weapons storage facility and serve as a site for nuclear research and testing. The area also contains radar stations and tunnels purportedly for military purposes. The proximity of the Kirana Hills to the Sargodha airbase (now Mushaf airbase) further amplifies its strategic value. The satellite images also revealed repaired runways at the Sargodha airbase, suggesting the damage was sustained during the Indian strikes and the base's strategic importance. The rapid repairs indicate that the airbase was considered a high-priority strategic asset.
Initially, Pakistani outlets claimed that their military had targeted India's Adampur air base in Punjab, alleging damage to a Sukhoi Su-30MKI and destruction of a critical S-400 air defense system. However, satellite analyst Damien Symon refuted these claims, presenting imagery from March 2025 showing a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance at the base.
The recent revelation of the satellite imagery has stirred discussions on the strategic implications of the strikes and the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
