9 IAF fighter pilots who hit Muridke, Bahawalpur targets during Operation Sindoor awarded Vir Chakra

Operation Sindoor

Nine Indian Air Force fighter pilots have been awarded the Vir Chakra, the nation’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal, for their role in Operation Sindoor. The May mission saw the IAF jets hitting terrorist group headquarters in Muridke and Bahawalpur, along with key Pakistan military assets. As per news agency ANI, the nine IAF officials are - Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora, Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Sidhnat Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. The offensive sparked four days of intense clashes, which concluded on May 10 with an understanding to halt military actions.

New Delhi has maintained that India’s powerful counter-attack compelled Pakistan to seek an end to the hostilities.

Meanwhile, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai were awarded the Sarvottam Yudha Sewa Medal for their role in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-based terrorist groups, during which Indian troops successfully foiled military attacks on civilian and military targets.

Last week, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh gave a detailed account of the May 7 strikes, which targeted terrorist headquarters and other assets near the border and deep inside Pakistan. “We have at least five enemy fighters confirmed killed, and one large aircraft — possibly a transport or an AWACS — destroyed at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is the largest recorded surface-to-air kill we can speak of,” he said.