The most celebrated encounter by India, the first aerial attack conducted by the Indian in Pakistan - 'Balakot Air Strike', completes its two years today. It was the first after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The Balakot airstrike was a counter answer in response to the deadly Pulwama attack that took the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
On February 26, 2019, at around 3.30 am, 2000 Mirage fighter jets passed over the Line of Control (LoC) and slew the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. Both Uri and Balakot airstrikes have proved India’s capabilities to retaliate against Pakistan’s ominous intentions.
Few major points of the Balakot airstrike:
- The Balakot airstrike was conducted by the seventh and ninth squadrons of the Indian Air Force and codenamed as 'Operation Bandar'.
- The strike was led in vengeance to the February 14 Pulwama attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying CRPF security personnel in Srinagar.
- The IAF used the upgraded Mirage 2000 and Sukhio Su-30 MKI to carry out the attack.
- The Balakot Air Strike was mainly conducted by 12 Mirage 2000 that flew from the Gwalior Air Force base.
- The Mirage 2000 jet fighters, flying three separate formations, flew over north and central India for hours before entering Pakistan.
- In response to the Balakot air strike, Pakistan retaliated with F-16 fighter jets.