In a bold escalation, India attempted another cross-border drone strike late Wednesday night, sending 12 Israeli-made Harop (kamikaze) drones into key Pakistani cities including Lahore, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Attock, and Karachi.

According to the Director General of ISPR, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Pakistan Army’s air defense units successfully intercepted and destroyed all 12 drones, averting potential large-scale destruction.

During a press briefing on Thursday, DG ISPR confirmed that one of the drones targeted a military installation near Lahore, injuring four soldiers and damaging military equipment. In a separate incident, a drone attack in the Miano area of Sindh resulted in the death of one civilian and injury to another.

What Are Harop Drones?

The drones used in the attack were Harop drones, known for their “loitering munition” capabilities. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, these are not ordinary surveillance drones. Once launched, Harop drones can search, identify, and attack targets autonomously, especially enemy radar systems. They do not require separate warheads, as the drone itself acts as the weapon, crashing into targets with lethal precision.

Harop drones are part of a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) strategy, designed to disable radar and missile defense systems in advance of airstrikes. Their stealthy design makes them nearly invisible to radar detection, giving them a deadly edge on the battlefield.

India had reportedly purchased 54 Harop drones in 2019 for $100 million, and they’ve been previously used in conflict zones like Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.

Rising Tensions

This latest drone offensive marks a serious escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, coming just days after Pakistan shot down an Indian Rafale jet over Ahmadpur East. With high-tech drones now entering the fray, the regional situation appears to be heading toward a high-risk flashpoint.