Since the launch of Operation Sindoor in May, the Indian government has regularly denied targeting Kirana Hills in Pakistan. However, a recent post on X with new Google satellite images showcased impact signs from a strike at Kirana and nearby Sargodha airbase runway.

During Operation Sindoor, India struck multiple terrorist installations in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir in retaliation of the Pahalgam attack. The terror attack was carried out by ‘The Resistance Front’, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Toiba, on April 22.

In a post on X, geo-intelligence researcher Damien Symon wrote, “Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows – 1 – the impact location of India’s strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025 2 – repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India’s strikes in May 2025.”

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Why is Kirana Hills important?

Kirana Hills is heavily guarded area as Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is believed to be stored there and it is considered a sensitive zone. As per the media reports, it has an underground nuclear weapon storage facility and is also a research and testing ground for it. Kirana Hills is also a strategically important area due to its having radar stations and tunnels for military purposes. In addition, the proximity of the Sargodha airbase enhances its importance.

However, Symon further clarified that the latest impact image shows “just one side of a hill with nothing of value in its immediate vicinity”. “[It] must’ve been a warning strike on India’s part, tunnels etc are further away and don’t show any damage,” Symon said in a reply to a comment on his post.

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Air Marshal Bharti on Kirana Hills strike

At a press conference on May 12, Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, sarcastically responded to a question about the Kirana site and said, “Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday.”

According to reports, 11 of 13 significant Pakistani airbases were hit during India’s Operation Sindoor. Pakistan was probably surprised by the extent of the success. Despite official denials, satellite data now seems to indicate damage at Sargodha airbase and Kirana Hills.