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Five IAF Spice 2000 bombs hit JeM camps in Balakot, govt satellite images show

High-resolution images procured by India show two JeM structures were hit by IAF in Balakot on 26 February.

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New Delhi: Five Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) dropped as many Spice 2000 precision-guided bunker-busting bombs when India struck camps of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on 26 February, according to new official information shared with ThePrint.

And two of the three intended targets, including the main training centre of the JeM, were conclusively hit, high-resolution images procured by India from its own satellites as well as those of friendly nations show.

The view of the third, a guest house suspected to have housed trainers and JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, was blocked by the heavy tree cover on the hilltop where the camps stood.

Contrary to reports that bad weather conditions on the day of the strike prevented clear pictures, top defence sources said that India has managed to get multiple high-resolution pictures of the structures, including those of repairs being carried out on the roof of one after the attack.


Also read: First satellite images show likely damage to Jaish Balakot camp but no massive destruction


Uncertainty

Weeks after India struck camps of the Pakistan-based JeM to foil future attacks by the terror group responsible for the 14 February Pulwama strike, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, questions have been raised over the exact impact of the hit.

Satellite images in possession of the government, and seen by ThePrint, clearly show that the Israeli Spice 2000 bombs, each of them weighing 900 kg with 95 kg of explosives, did drop on at least two targets.

The images show small black holes in the roof of two of the targeted buildings that appear to be the entry points of the bombs, which are meant to take out heavily-fortified and underground command and control centres.

“The Spice 2000 is meant to take out underground command and control centres of the enemy,” a top source in the government told ThePrint.

“These centres are built with heavy concrete structures on top to prevent any damage from traditional bombs,” the source added.

Explaining how the Israeli bombs work, the source said their weight and velocity were directed at penetrating concrete structures and releasing shrapnel from their steel casing. The actual explosive in each bomb only weighs 95 kg, about a tenth of the total weight.

“The main velocity of the explosives is used to break through the 900 kg of steel casing. This steel breaks into small pieces and acts as shrapnel,” said the source.

The IAF went in for the Spice 2000 missiles with the intent of causing maximum damage to residents of the three structures. Six bombs were meant to be fired from the Mirage 2000 fighters, but because of a technical issue, only five could be.

According to the source, questions about the damage inflicted by the bombs betrayed a lack of understanding about their functioning.

“Everybody is looking at the commercially-available satellite images and arguing that the structures are standing, without understanding how these precision bombs actually work,” the source added.

Since satellite images only show the top of the structures, it’s difficult to analyse the exact extent of damage.

“Only ground pictures will show the extent of damage, but, sadly, the satellite pictures will not be able to capture that,” the source said. “What it shows is that the bombs did hit the targets. And when a bomb hits the target, it causes the damage that it is meant to cause.”


Also read: In Balakot, India tested a new military reaction much different from 2016 surgical strikes


The targets

There are six structures at the attack site, including a large mosque, but the IAF was tasked with targeting three.

A two-storey building that housed most of the cadres, including suicide bombers in training, was the primary target, and was hit by three bombs, sources said.

The three Spice 2000 that hit this building came with timers — configured on the basis of the structure’s make and the material used — that enabled them to go off only after reaching the ground floor.

The other two were the guest house and a single-storey building believed to house new recruits.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said after the 26 February IAF strike that it eliminated “a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action”, but the exact toll is not available as yet.

According to information generated through technological means and human intelligence, the structures housed as many as 300 terrorists, sources have said.

The numbers are said to have swelled in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, as the JeM pulled back cadres from the border amid fears of a 2016-like surgical strike, when the Indian Army’s special forces crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to destroy terrorist launch pads.

The Pakistani military has thrown open the Balakot area where the camps were located for the media, and organised trips to a site in the forest where they claim the bombs fell but is suspected to be a ground for explosives training.

But the JeM camp being run under the cover of a madrassa remains out of bounds.


Also read: Balakot is the first time one nuclear power has used air strikes on another’s territory


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93 COMMENTS

  1. Indian Government – we want to see these images in Public domain .. not for our sake but for the sake of Parents of those 45 killed CRPF soldiers..
    BJP – Shame on you for trying to get the political mileage …even if its done ..we want to see something …

  2. “That we have crossed their boundary and achieved our goal” is great enough at present, to balance against their attack ! They are warned, much more could be done by us !
    WE ARE NOT TERRORISTS LIKE THEM !
    JAI HIND , JAI BHARAT, SALAAM OUR JAVANS !

  3. Those who say that all these are fake or proof needed, for them.
    Do you think that India will spend crores of rupees and send few fighter planes with risk of crossing international border at night time with bombs and will just target trees and destroy forests and come back ??

    When Our Indian Government planned something, they execute it with excellence nowadays .

  4. This comment for those for who asked for proof…these people have doubt on thier own birth tat to whome and wid whose they born…
    Such People are more lovers of porkistan..
    If u dont beilieve in ur own country people ..u wil be a problem or threate to country in any day.bcoz u such people nees always proof…

  5. So we have made one thing clear that many peoples residing in Pakistan or — know the fact that there is/was an terrorist training camp at balakot of Pakistan which is not a terrorist country and they are happy that IAF could had done nothing by targeting them….

  6. Accepting Israeli bombs were of special nature to bore a hole in roof top, enter the structure and exploding in side and destroy every thing and kill humans inside, I believe the bomb blast followed Pascals law and equally its pressure effect spread on all directions , upward also, destroying the roof top from below and throwing it away exposing inner side and casualties in side , in which case the roof intact with punctured holes due to entry of bombs themselves can not be expected to be photographed even by Indian satellites. If you believe government’s story, please explain the bombardment story of entering inside the concrete roof and exploding thereafter

  7. Now the picture of mirraz is shoot from ground as lower part of aircraft seen. If it settalite image then upper part of aircraft seen

  8. Another report quoting sources who, like coy brides, hide behind the ‘purdah’ of anonymity. This has gone on for far too long for the credibility of everyone involved in the game that began right on day one, with inspired plants by helpful reporters.

  9. Anyone with an interest in military aviation can tell how bunker busting bombs work. Hollywood/Bollywood has has ruined our perception that if there is a bomb there will be a big fireball and stuff flying everywhere. The splice 2000 is just like the JDAM( joint direct attack munition) used by the US. It is not a bomb, but a module that is fitted onto the actual bomb (mk 83, mk84). These modules have fins and a computer that can track laser (emitted by plane or ground infantry) or fall on specific GPS coordinates. The bombs (mk 83, mk 84) themselves have instantaneous or delayed fusing and when put on delayed, the warhead will dig certain depth into the target (pre-determined by ground crew) and then trigger their payload. This same technology was used by the US vs Taliban in Afgan caves back in 2003. Nobody seemed to doubt that. I myself am not a fan of how poorly the IAF is being maintained but am positive of the mission’s success.

  10. For all the intellectual people who are asking for proof….u have to understand the mechanics of spice bombs…pls understand that these are bunker buster bombs and the 1000kg is for penetration, only 86 kg explosives are there. it penetrates reinforced structures and does heavy damage without actually destroying the structures mostly. And how do u obtain proof in enemy territory? Take news channels with u? all damage verification is done by ground intelligence. If u are given govt intelligence reports, still u will scream “whats the proof”. Morever as far as this being an election issue is concerned, when army created bangladesh, Indira gandhi took credit. So if Modi has the political will to conduct strikes, he should not be given credit…isnt it? What hypocricy…As far as the porkis here commenting is concerned, obviously they will say nothing happened…only porki establishment knows how badly there ass is torn…AND ONE MORE THING…I WONDER WHY REUTERS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES WERE DENIED ACCESS TO JABA TOP (FOR 15 DAYS) AFTER THE STRIKES…TILL NOW THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO THE ACTUAL SITE…..THE CLEANUP OPERATIONS ARE NOT FINISHED YET😁😁😁. IT MUST BE MASSIVE DAMAGE….

  11. Most of the guys here posting negative remarks haven’t either read the article or understand basic English. The article clearly mentions about how Spice bombs work. I presume many of them are from Pakistan who has more affection towards blasting everything want to see building crumbled to pieces. Those questioning the attack – please answer my questions
    1. Why the Reuters which reported no damage to the buildings weren’t allowed to the site? What is the necessity to have heavy army contingent guarding the way to these buildings?
    2. If India didn’t strike the targets, why 200+ mobile signals active till then went suddenly poof right after the strike? These terrorists definitely won’t switch off their mobiles before sleep especially knowing the Pakistanis affection for goat and pig porn.
    3. If Indian jets hit empty forest area, why Pakistan resort to a retaliation using prohibited F-16s? They could have simply shown the pieces of bomb shells to International media like how India did for Amraam missile fired by F-16! That would’ve got Pakistan brownie points internationally as a peace loving country. Now don’t say pakistan doesn’t like theatrics. We all saw how soon Abhinandan videos came to Social media. Pakistan could’ve released similar videos for dropped bombs in empty areas.

    Whether you want to believe or not, PM Modi has guts to take the bull by horn than earlier PM who resorted to writing love letters to Pakistan. Even if IAF strike killed one terrorist, thats okay since workd is short by one pig. Jai Hind.

  12. The reason propaganda warfare is successful on the internet is because a bunch if idiots who have never been near a fighter jet let alone a surface to air missle, who have never looked at a military grade satellite photo can leave authorotative comments on this forum.

  13. For God sake stop fooling around with people anymore. All international satallites and media has stated there is no damage from airstrike, just a few trees destroyed and a damaged local villager’s house and nothing else.

  14. If this were true the most laughable thing is that the “Indian Government’s so called satellite” was perhaps located somewhere in Balakot and on the ground 😄

  15. When one party try to encase the achievement of the security forces for political and electoral gains the other party asks for proof. If first party’s action is not condemnatory then how is second party’s question condemn able. The number quoted by the ruling party has been seen by none and without any shadow of doubt there is none, where’s our war planes have come down and pilot martyred and taken to custody and returned to us as proof has been seen by the world.

  16. Isn’t it strange has every thing as proof, from videos to pictures to satellites to logic, meanwhile indiana have just unknown sources who speak in code word “jannab.”

  17. The question arises only when the entire international media stated India’s claim is false. No one wants to be fooled by election gimmicks. Solid proof will make Mr. Modi a real hero in every body’s heart.

  18. What rubbish.Proof is eventually asked to subtiate the controversy that follows.The nation is filled with high intellects and thinkers.Opened the link to see actuall images.Stop beating around the bush.Let truth alone perish.
    Not against the Government.Not against the ruling.Let truth alone perish.

  19. We should appreciate the capability of our Air force without raising any doubts. Pakistan got isolated on World map. Countries should ban Pakistan and stop doing business.

  20. I mean seriously…. 900kg bomb only create small holes? ThePrint you people need to get more mature. By the way 900kg meant a big area to cover by dropped bomb.
    This is just a drama for the election nothing else….

  21. I am a professional PI. The news that IAF destroyed Terror hideouts and killed 300 is hogwash. Photos put out by a private US site of Balakot attack show no damage. This is reported by Reuters. Check it out Please check.lots of misinformation.

  22. I think the government is compelled to keep this going at least until the elections are over because they knew well that India never fought elections based on issues but only emotions. We Indians could be easily changed if someone strikes our emotions and Modi is a master is doing it.

  23. Funny….why are all going after satellite images? As per Pakistan, if there is no damage and it’s only barren land and forests then media people from all nations should be allowed to visit the spots to assess actual damage…but Pakistan invariably finds an excuse to cordon off the whole area citing security reasons.

  24. Its a false and face saving story . Infact india lost his Su and Migs in the combat. All international media houses have confirmed that indian strike was nothing more than an effort for political gain in upcoming elections. Only few trees were down by expensive spice 2000 bombs. IAF is on very week footing since then.

    India should behave sensibly and like a mature nation. A single Modi is a cause of shame for millions of indians

  25. A Cowardly Attack Is a Cowardly Act by any terrorist or a Terrorist Organisation it is an Act of An “Eunuch”.. Salute to the Martyrs of Our Great Country and Condolonces and Support to the Families of Our Great Great Jawans who Met Martyrdom in Pulwama.. but yes it was Politicised by the Ruling Party BJP and No Doubt Mr Modi and all the BJP’ians took the Advantage as the Retaliation Came out to be the Stunt and Gains for their Political Benefits which is Wrong, as We have Faced Many Cowardly Terrorist Attacks and Jawans at Many Front on many occasions apart from Pulwama I think 26/11 was One of the Shameful Deadliest attack by the Terrorists for Which We were having Enough Evidence to Wage a Full Fledged War against Pakistan without any Compromise Was Pulwama a Big Incident or 26/11 ? Our Martyrs Martyred their Lives in Pulwama for their/Our Country O Dirty Politicians of My Country they Didn’t Posed their Pictures for Your Political Gains Remember this.. None of You Politicians have Ever Lost their Near and Dear Ones for this Country apart from Few True Leaders
    So Stop Using the Images of the Great Soldiers in Your Cheap Dirty Politics and Stop Using the Pictures of Our Military Action for Your Dirty Political Marketings..

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