How the IAF strike at Balakot unfolded: All the updates here

Updated: Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 17:02 [IST]

New Delhi, Feb 26: India dealt a decisive blow and targeted Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps at Balakot Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in the wee hours of Tuesday.

How the IAF strike at Balakot unfolded: All the updates here

The strikes by the Indian Air Force began at 3.30 am and went on until 3.58 am. The IAF used the Mirage 2000 for this operation and used 1,000 kilogram laser guided bomb to destroy the terror camps. Sources tell OneIndia that at least 300 terrorists had died in this operation.

You can check below for all the updates on how the IAF strikes unfolded:

Feb 26, 2019, 3:58 PM IST

Pakistan had asked all terrorists to move out of PoK after the Pulwama attack. All the JeM terrorists were shifted to Balakot. This made it possible for the IAF to target a large number of terrorists with one strike.

Feb 26, 2019, 3:17 PM IST

Following the Pulwama attack, anticipating action, Pakistan shifted all the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists to the camp at Balakot. Sources say that Balakot was chosen as a large number of terrorists had been moved there. They were sleeping when the IAF dropped the bomb on them.

Feb 26, 2019, 2:52 PM IST

Intel Sources: Picture of JeM facility destroyed by Indian Ar Force strikes in Balakot, Pakistan

Intel Sources: Picture of JeM facility destroyed by Indian Ar Force strikes in Balakot, Pakistan pic.twitter.com/th1JWbVrHw
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019, 2:51 PM IST

Intel Sources: Ammunition dump blown up today in Balakot,Pakistan by IAF Mirages. The dump had more than 200 AK rifles, uncountable rounds hand grenades, explosives and detonators

Intel Sources: Ammunition dump blown up today in Balakot,Pakistan by IAF Mirages. The dump had more than 200 AK rifles, uncountable rounds hand grenades, explosives and detonators pic.twitter.com/b7ENbKgYaH
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019, 2:50 PM IST

Intel Sources: Flags of USA, UK and Israel painted on staircases seen in Jaish e Mohammed facility destroyed by Indian Air Force jets in Balakot

Intel Sources: Flags of USA, UK and Israel painted on staircases seen in Jaish e Mohammed facility destroyed by Indian Air Force jets in Balakot pic.twitter.com/266CEI0hGR
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019, 2:40 PM IST

Sources say that nearly 300 terrorists including senior commanders, trainers and foot soldiers were killed in the IAF strike. This was a counter terror strike based operation. It was based on very concrete intelligence.

Feb 26, 2019, 12:56 PM IST

India will brief major world powers on air strikes.

Feb 26, 2019, 12:33 PM IST

Following the air strikes, the Indian Army Chief, General Rawat along with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval is reviewing the situation along the border areas.

Feb 26, 2019, 12:07 PM IST

High speed broadband services curtailed in Srinagar.

Feb 26, 2019, 12:07 PM IST

Precise intelligence based action say sources on strikes

Feb 26, 2019, 11:04 AM IST

All airbases of Punjab and Haryana including Ambala and Sirsa are on high alert.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:58 AM IST

Pakistan had scrambled its F16s to retaliate, but were forced to retreat due to size of Indian formation.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:58 AM IST

The operation was coordinated by the Western Air Command.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:55 AM IST

Some residents of Srinagar said that they heard war planes after 3 am.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:54 AM IST

The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security has ended.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:14 AM IST

Sources also say that the camps of the Hizbul Mujahideen too were targeted. The operation began at 3.30 am today. The first camp to be hit was at Balakote at around 3.45 am. The terror camps at Muzaffarabad and Chakothi were hit at around 3.48 am and 3.58 am respectively.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:05 AM IST

One of the biggest hits was at the Balakote camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The camp is spread across 7 acres and is the biggest one of the Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:02 AM IST

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security is underway at Lok Kalyan Marg. The meeting is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NSA, Ajit Doval too is at the meeting.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:39 AM IST

Congress president 'salutes pilots' and lauds IAF in a tweet.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:36 AM IST

Meanwhile according to Dawn, foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi has summoned an emergency meeting to review the situation in the aftermath of the IAF strikes.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:34 AM IST

Terror launch pads across LoC in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad have completely been destroyed in IAF air strikes. JeM control rooms also destroyed, said reports.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:32 AM IST

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has summoned emergency meeting to review the situation after Indian air force intruded Pakistan airspace, say reports.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:27 AM IST

All border forces have been put on high alert.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:27 AM IST

Reports suggest that drones were also used.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:22 AM IST

Meanwhile Pakistan continues to maintain that the payload hastily fell while the Indian aircrafts were escaping. The spokesperson of the Pakistan armed forces has posted pictures of the same.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:21 AM IST

Tweet by Pak army spokesperson

Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open. pic.twitter.com/8drYtNGMsm
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019, 9:20 AM IST

National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation. The facts and assessment of the operation have been briefed to the PM.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:18 AM IST

"We are bombing our own territory temporarily called PoK. So no international law broken but it is in self defence," tweets Subramanian Swamy.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:16 AM IST

Apart from the Mirage 2000s, drones and early warning jets too were part of the operation.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:12 AM IST

The casualties have been severe following the air strikes. Nearly 200 terrorists have been hit, the source also added.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:52 am IST

Sources said that a 1,000 kg laser guided bomb was used in the strike.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:52 am IST

The retaliation comes in the wake of the Pulwama attack in which over 40 CRPF jawans were martyred.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:52 am IST

Major terror camps had been identified on the basis of concrete intelligence, following which the strike took place, sources also added. Around 1,000 kilograms of bombs were dropped during the operation, the source also added.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:52 am IST

Indian officials added that the version put out by Pakistan is theirs and heavy damage was inflicted on their terror camps. Around 10 Mirage 2000s took part in the operation which took place at around 0330 hours on February 26.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:52 am IST

Pakistan however claimed that, Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:53 am IST

The aircraft went up to Balakot and struck at the terror camps.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:53 am IST

Sources tell OneIndia that the Mirage 2000s struck at camps operated by the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The terror camps have been completely destroyed, the source also added.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:54 am IST

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said that the IAF would always be at the forefront in executing its missions. We are showcasing our ability to hit hard, hit fast and also hit with precision, during day, during night and hit under adverse weather conditions through our autonomous bombing capability, he also added.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:54 am IST

Balakot is a town in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is around 50 kilometres away from the Line of Control

Feb 26, 2019, 8:54 am IST

The Indian Air Force says that it can hit at anytime and at very short notice.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:54 am IST

The aircraft had been stationed near the border. They are battle ready and can strike at very short notice, officials said.

Feb 26, 2019, 8:55 am IST

The IAF had lined up 140 of its aircraft near the Indo-Pak border

Feb 26, 2019, 9:04 am IST

Sources say that three launch pads of the Jaish-e-Mohammad were destroyed. The pads to be hit were at Balakot, Chakoti and Muzaffarabad. The control rooms of the JeM too have been destroyed, the source added.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:08 am IST

The decision to strike back Pakistan was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself in the aftermath of what happened in Pulwama, reports say while quoting sources.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:09 am IST

Indian Fighter jets struck major terrorist camp across the LoC and completely destroyed it, say reports.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:12 am IST

The casualties have been severe following the air strikes. Nearly 200 terrorists have been hit, the source also added.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:16 am IST

Apart from the Mirage 2000s, drones and early warning jets too were part of the operation.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:18 am IST

"We are bombing our own territory temporarily called PoK. So no international law broken but it is in self defence," tweets Subramanian Swamy.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:20 am IST

National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation. The facts and assessment of the operation have been briefed to the PM.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:21 am IST

Tweet by Pak army spokesperson

Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open. pic.twitter.com/8drYtNGMsm
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019

Feb 26, 2019, 9:22 am IST

Meanwhile Pakistan continues to maintain that the payload hastily fell while the Indian aircrafts were escaping. The spokesperson of the Pakistan armed forces has posted pictures of the same.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:27 am IST

Reports suggest that drones were also used.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:27 am IST

All border forces have been put on high alert.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:32 am IST

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has summoned emergency meeting to review the situation after Indian air force intruded Pakistan airspace, say reports.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:34 am IST

Terror launch pads across LoC in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad have completely been destroyed in IAF air strikes. JeM control rooms also destroyed, said reports.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:36 am IST

Meanwhile according to Dawn, foreign minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi has summoned an emergency meeting to review the situation in the aftermath of the IAF strikes.

Feb 26, 2019, 9:39 am IST

Congress president 'salutes pilots' and lauds IAF in a tweet.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:02 am IST

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security is underway at Lok Kalyan Marg. The meeting is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NSA, Ajit Doval too is at the meeting.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:05 am IST

One of the biggest hits was at the Balakote camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The camp is spread across 7 acres and is the biggest one of the Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Feb 26, 2019, 10:14 am IST

How the IAF strike at Balakot unfolded: All the updates here

You can check below for all the updates on how the IAF strikes unfolded:

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