Israeli Weapons Reportedly Used in Indian Strikes on Pakistani Targets Amid Kashmir Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly confirmed that Israel provided military support to India during Operation Sindoor, a four-day confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025, marked by artillery, drone, and air strikes across the Line of Control (LoC).
The conflict erupted after India accused Pakistan—without presenting evidence—of orchestrating a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a town in occupied Kashmir. The skirmishes involved intense cross-border exchanges and ended unexpectedly after U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Netanyahu announced that he had met with Indian Ambassador JP Singh in Jerusalem, where they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in defence and economic sectors.
“I also held a meeting with senior Indian journalists and answered their questions,” he added.
Israeli Weapons Used in Indian Strikes, Confirms Netanyahu
According to Indian news outlet NDTV, Netanyahu confirmed that Indian forces used Israeli military hardware, including HARPY drones and Barak-8 missiles—a joint Israel-India defence project—during Operation Sindoor.
“The things we provided before worked very well on the field… We develop our weapons in the field and they are battle-tested,” Netanyahu reportedly said. “They worked fine, and we have a pretty solid foundation.”
NDTV also reported that Israel was one of several nations that backed Operation Sindoor, which India claims was aimed at eliminating “terrorist” elements, though observers and Pakistan allege it was used as a pretext for cross-border aggression.
Israeli Diplomats Defend Operation Sindoor
Kobbi Shoshani, Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai, publicly defended the operation, calling it a justified act of self-defence.
“That was an action of self-defence, and I’m very proud of this operation,” Shoshani told media.
Indian outlet News18 further reported that the HARPY and SkyStriker loitering munitions—both Israeli-made—were deployed to disable Pakistani air defence and surveillance systems during the operation.
Growing Military Ties Between India and Israel
India and Israel have significantly deepened their defence partnership over the last decade. According to data, India has imported over $2.9 billion worth of military hardware from Israel, including:
- Radars
- Surveillance drones
- Combat drones
- Precision-guided missiles
In 2019, India launched airstrikes in Balakot, which it claimed targeted a terrorist training camp. The operation used Israeli Rafael SPICE smart bombs, but reports from local residents indicated no casualties and minimal structural damage.
The recent confirmation by Netanyahu underscores the strategic depth of India-Israel military cooperation and raises further concerns over the international implications of foreign support in regional conflicts, particularly in South Asia.
