IAF air strike: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday conducted a massive pre-emptive air strike on a major terror group camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed across the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakot region. As per official statements, the move is being referred to as ‘intelligence-led operation’ which eliminated around 300 terrorists planning to launch a terror attack in India. As soon as the news came into light, the entire nation welcomed and started celebrating the killing of the JeM terrorists touting it to be revenge taken against the heinous Pulwama attack that took lives of more than 40 CRPF jawans.

As per initial reports, as many as 12 IAF Mirage 2000-5 IN fighter jets crossed the LoC at around 3.30 am and dropped 1,000 kg laser-guided bombs on the targets. Top government sources claim that approximately 300 terrorists were killed in the Air Force strike at Balakot, around 80 km from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Though Pakistan is still at a denial mode, some eyewitnesses living around the vicinity where the air strike took place confirmed the attack conducted by Indian Air Force. Speaking to BBC Urdu, an eyewitness Mohammed Adil said that at around 3 am he heard some frightening sound and thought that an earthquake has taken place. “We couldn’t sleep through the night. 5-10 minutes later, we came to know that an explosion has rocked the area,” he said.

Watch Pakistani resident in Balakot explaining about the air attack conducted by Indian Air Force:



Some other eyewitnesses also said that they saw trees have fallen down, damaged houses and even some craters where the bombs had fallen. This is the first time since the 1971 war that India has used air power against Pakistan. India received intelligence that JeM had shifted many in-training terrorists and hardcore operatives, along with their trainers, to the camp, about 20 km from Balakot town, which has facilities for 500 to 700 people and even a swimming pool, sources said.

In a synchronised operation, fighter and other aircraft took off from several air bases in Western and Central commands at about the same time, leaving Pakistani defence officials confused about where they were heading, they said. Justifying the air strike that took place earlier today, the government of India said that in the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became ‘absolutely necessary’.

At least 325 terrorists and 25 to 27 trainers were at the camp, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying. The facility at Balakot, located in a thick forest on a hilltop far from the civilian presence, was headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar, alias Ustad Ghouri, the brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.