Satellite images disprove Pakistan’s Indian airstrike claims

New Delhi

Claims by Pakistan about successful strikes on Indian airbases during Operation Sindoor have been refuted by satellite imagery analysis. Top Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analyst Damien Symon revealed that the visuals used by Pakistan were outdated and misrepresented.

Following India’s Operation Sindoor—which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and parts of Punjab province—Pakistan alleged that it had hit Adampur Air Base in Punjab and damaged a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet. Symon, however, exposed these claims as false.

On social media platform X, Symon highlighted that the image used to support the claim was taken in March 2025, prior to the conflict, and showed a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance. The dark marks near the aircraft were typical engine soot from testing, not battle damage.

In another instance, Pakistan claimed it had destroyed an Indian S-400 radar system at Bhuj air base in Gujarat. Symon clarified that the supposed damage was actually oil stains in a vehicle service yard. This image, too, predated the May 2025 conflict and was captured in February.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The military campaign lasted four days and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10.

These fact-checks undermine Pakistan’s post-conflict narrative, exposing the use of unrelated and misleading images to support exaggerated military achievements. The Indian government has yet to issue an official response, but analysts highlight the importance of real-time verification in modern information warfare.