Pakistan Again Extends Closure Of Key Airbase Destroyed By Indian Strikes During Op Sindoor

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 16:15 IST

Pakistan has extended the closure of Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway till August 6 due to damage from India's missile strikes during Operation Sindoor.

Satellite image shows damage to the Rahim Yar Khan airbase (X)

Pakistan has once again extended the closure of the sole runway at its strategic Rahim Yar Khan airbase, which was destroyed and crippled by India’s missile strikes during Operation Sindoor.

As per the latest notice to airmen, or NOTAM issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority,  the runway would remain closed for flight operations till till 4:49 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on August 6. Without specifying any reason, the NOTAM just mentioned that the closure was due to work in progress, suggesting extensive damage inflicted by the strikes.

Independent satellite imagery expert Damien Symon posted the notice on X, confirming that the airbase has still not recovered from the damages inflicted by Indian missiles.

On the day of the airstrikes, Pakistan had issued a NOTAM saying that the runway at the airbase will be unavailable for flight operations for a week. Subsequently, it has issued a number of NOTAMs to extend the closure, an indication that the extensive runway repairs needed after India’s precision strikes.

The Indian forces’ precision strike the airbase during Operation Sindoor created a massive crater — nearly 19 feet across (43-foot diameter) — in the middle of its sole runway, rendering the facility unusable. Satellite images later confirmed the damage caused by the strikes.

Rahim Yar Khan Airbase is located in southern Punjab, Pakistan and is a strategically positioned military air facility operated by the Pakistan Air Force. It serves as a dual-purpose airport, and also houses the Sheikh Zayed International Airport apart from the air base.

Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, bombing nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in pre-dawn strikes that killed at least 100 militants. The operation sparked four days of cross-border fighting involving fighter jets, missiles and artillery.

The air base was among the 11 military sites targeted during the operation in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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News world Pakistan Again Extends Closure Of Key Airbase Destroyed By Indian Strikes During Op Sindoor