Pakistan airbase struck by Indian missiles still 'offline'; closure now extended till August 15

Rahim Yar Khan airbase//Pakistan

Pakistan has yet again extended the closure of its strategic Rahim Yar Khan airbase, this time till August 15, as restoration efforts continue following the Indian missile strikes during Operation Sindoor.

Earlier, Pakistan had issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), extending the closure of the airbase till August 5. The airbase had suffered heavy damages during Indian strikes.

Independent satellite imagery expert Damien Symon posted the notice on X, confirming that the sole runway at the airbase, which was struck by India in May, will remain offline till August 15 (estimated).

Earlier, the closure was extended till at least August 5.

The airbase has remained shut since being struck by Indian missiles on May 10. Pakistan had issued a NOTAM saying that the airbase will be unavailable for flight operations for a week on the day it was struck.

The Indian Air Force's precision strike the airbase had created a massive crater — nearly 19 feet across (43-foot diameter) — in the middle of its sole runway, rendering the facility unusable. Satellite images later confirmed the damage caused by the strikes.

The images reveal extensive structural damage to hangars and apron areas of the airbase, with debris strewn across the site.

Pakistani authorities have issued multiple NOTAMs extending the closure of the Rahim Yar Khan airbase since the Indian strikes, suggesting that the damage was extensive and has severely hampered efforts to restore the base to operational condition.

Rahim Yar Khan Airbase is located in southern Punjab, Pakistan and is a strategically positioned military air facility operated by the Pakistan Air Force.

While not officially acknowledged as a major base, it has reportedly been used for both conventional deployments and contingency operations during periods of heightened tensions with India.

Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).

In subsequent military clashes with Pakistan, India struck several airbases deep inside Pakistan, forcing the country to push for a ceasefire.