Pakistan Launches Offensive Operation Against India - 'Bunyan al-Marsus'. What Does it Mean?

On Saturday morning, Pakistan launched a series of drones and missiles towards India, most of which were intercepted by Indian defence systems, according to the Indian Armed Forces.

The strikes appear to be part of a newly initiated Pakistani military campaign named 'Operation Bunyan al-Marsus'.

Photo Credit: PTI

This latest escalation follows India's targeted air strikes on three Pakistani air bases-Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Jhang-carried out during the night between Friday and Saturday.

These actions came in response to a wave of drone sightings in at least 26 locations across Indian states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat on Friday night.

What Does "Bunyan al-Marsus" Mean?

The term "Bunyan al-Marsus" is derived from a verse in the Quran.

According to a New York Times report, it translates to "a firm and compact structure".

Al Jazeera further explains that the Arabic phrase can be interpreted as "a structure made of lead," referencing a Quranic verse which states: "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure."

There have been varying spellings of the operation's name across different media reports.

Rising Tensions

The situation deteriorated further on Saturday morning as loud explosions were reported in several areas of Jammu and Kashmir following Pakistani shelling.

Tragically, Raj Kumar Thappa, the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) of Rajouri, lost his life when his residence was struck during the shelling.

Rajouri district is now reportedly facing a full-scale offensive, with heavy bombardment continuing since dawn. Explosions were also heard in other cities including Jammu, Srinagar, and Udhampur, as Pakistan maintains pressure on Indian border regions.

In response, the Indian Armed Forces have been actively engaging and neutralising incoming aerial threats using advanced counter-drone technology.