Operation Sindoor: What are loitering munitions that India used to strike terror targets in Pakistan, PoK

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday carried out "Operation Sindoor" in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), striking terror bases in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians.During the operation, the forces deployed loitering munitions to destroy nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK.Precision strike weapon systems from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, including loitering munitions, were employed in Operation Sindoor, which successfully targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), sources confirmed news agency ANI.The coordinates for the attacks were provided by intelligence agencies, and the strikes were carried out entirely from Indian soil.The Indian forces selected these locations with the intent of targeting key Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership, responsible for sponsoring terrorism in India, sources added.The operation targeted nine locations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s hub in Muridke. Utilising advanced precision weapons and intelligence-based targeting, the Army, Navy, and Air Force coordinated the strikes without engaging Pakistani military sites.A loitering munition is a type of precision weapon that hovers over a target area to locate and strike targets, often autonomously or under human control, before being expended.As per a statement issued by the defence ministry at 1:44 am the operation was described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature."The targets included the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) base in Muridke.After the operation, Indian Army said: "Justice is Served. Jai Hind!'."A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed," ministry of defence said in a statement.