Local time on May 7th at dawn, the Indian Air Force launched airstrikes on 9 locations within Pakistan. The tense situation between India and Pakistan has completely escalated. Pakistan claimed that 6 Indian military aircraft were shot down.

According to reports by the U.S. Cable News Network (CNN), sources from Pakistan's security sector revealed that Pakistan "acted in self-defense" and shot down 3 French-made Rafale fighter jets, 1 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet, and 1 MiG-29 fighter jet. Additionally, one Indian Heron drone was also shot down. Another senior Pakistani government official confirmed this list.

On the morning of May 7th local time, the Pakistani military held a press conference. Lieutenant General Ahmed Nadeem Qadri, Director of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan's three armed forces, confirmed the aforementioned information.

Before the conflict, the Indian Air Force had 36 Rafale fighter jets. The Rafale fighter jet is the latest equipment of the Indian Air Force, with the first batch of aircraft arriving in India at the end of July 2020.

The report stated that this is the most severe loss for the Indian military in decades and may further escalate. India has not yet responded at this stage.

According to previous reports by India's New Delhi TV Channel, citing sources, Indian troops indeed deployed Rafale fighters during this airstrike, using Storm Shadow cruise missiles to attack targets within Pakistan.

According to military observer analysis by the Observer Network, based on the crash debris video filmed in Karan Village, Punjab Province, it can be confirmed that there are French-made MICA air-to-air missiles and their launchers in the wreckage, which can be used by the Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters; additionally, there are suspected French-made M53 turbofan engines used by Mirage 2000 fighters in the wreckage.

Engine comparison image

Missile and launcher comparison image

At dawn on May 7th local time, the Indian Press Information Bureau released a statement claiming that the Indian Air Force launched Operation Sindoor, attacking "terrorist facilities" within Pakistan, striking 9 targets within Pakistan (5 of which were located in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir). "Our operation was precise, measured, and non-escalatory. Pakistani military installations were not targeted."

Pakistan confirmed that the attack resulted in 8 deaths and 35 injuries.

Pakistani Minister of Information and Broadcasting Talal responded to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 7th, stating that India had "crossed the line." "This attack made no sense and was an absolute act of blind aggression," Talal said. "Of course, we will retaliate... We will respond from both the ground and the air."

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated in a declaration that Pakistan has informed the United Nations Security Council and reserved the right to appropriately respond to India's acts of aggression.

This article is an exclusive article by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501533527503913472/

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