Overview

• On the night of May 8–9, Pakistan deployed 300–400 drones across 36 locations along the International Border and Line of Control, targeting military and civilian zones.
• India's layered air defence systems effectively intercepted the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, preventing military casualties and minimizing civilian impact.
• Fragments of Turkish ASISGUARD Songar and Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones were recovered, with forensic analysis underway to confirm their origins.
• One drone strike in Punjab’s Firozpur injured three civilians, highlighting the psychological and physical toll of drone warfare on local populations.
• This escalation underscores the growing reliance on unmanned systems in South Asian conflicts, raising concerns over miscalculations and potential for broader hostilities.