Today, May 7, 2026, marks the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, a defining 96-hour military campaign launched by India in 2025. To commemorate the event, the Indian Air Force (IAF) released a declassified video at 1:05 AM—the exact time the operation commenced a year ago—detailing the precision strikes that targeted nine major terror launchpads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Newly Revealed Details of the 2025 Strike
On this anniversary, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces have shared specific operational highlights that were previously classified:
Targeted Locations: The IAF video officially named the nine destroyed sites, including Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal, Kotli Abbas, Kotli Gulpur, and Bhimber in PoJK, as well as Mehmooda Joya, Sarjal Launchpad, Muridke, and Bahawalpur in Pakistan.
The BrahMos Decisive Phase: A critical phase unfolded on May 10, 2025, when India deployed air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to strike 11 Pakistani airfields within 45 minutes, effectively forcing a ceasefire.
Tri-Service Synergy: * Air Force: Conducted high-impact precision strikes on strategic targets like the Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan airbases.
Navy: Deployed a Carrier Battle Group (CBG) with MiG-29K jets to assert maritime dominance and bottle up Pakistani air elements along the Makran coast.
Army & BSF: Thwarted major infiltration attempts in the Samba district and neutralized high-profile terrorist planners.
Non-Kinetic Measures: Alongside military action, India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, economically and diplomatically isolating the neighbor.
Impact on Global Defense Exports
A significant legacy of Operation Sindoor has been the validation of India's indigenous defense systems. Between July 2025 and March 2026, India secured defense export orders worth ₹24,000 crore. Key systems like the Akash-NG (which recorded a 90% interception rate during the conflict) and indigenous loitering munitions have seen a surge in international demand.
Zero-Tolerance Policy: One Year On
The anniversary serves as a reminder of India’s shift toward a "zero-tolerance" policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a speech featured in the commemorative video, reiterated that "terror and talks cannot go together". Strategic experts note that the 2025 operation successfully established a new deterrent, proving that cross-border terrorism will be met with firm, multi-domain retaliation.