An Islamist terrorist attack on a Pakistani air force training base caused limited damage to two aircraft hangers, and no aircraft or military vehicles were damaged.
That's according to satellite photos of Mianwal Air Force Base taken Saturday by Umbra Lab, obtained and analyzed by the Globe Banner.
The attacks occurred between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time Saturday morning, or between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday night, Eastern time, according to a report in Reuters.
The photos confirm a statement made by the Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF) that the attack didn't damage aircraft, and it was limited "to three already grounded aircraft and a fuel bowser."
"No damage has been done to any of the PAF’s functional operational assets, while only some damage was done to three already phased out non-operational aircraft during the attack," the PAF said. "(A) clearance operation at PAF Training Airbase Mianwali has been concluded and all nine terrorists have been sent to hell. The successful operation was launched by security forces to eliminate any potential threat in the surrounding area following the cowardly and failed terrorist attack on the base this morning."
Images posted on Twitter by analyst Damien Symon showed before and after damage of an aircraft shed.
Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, in a statement distributed on social media.
After its first terrorist attack in February, the group was described as wanting "implementation of Sharia in Pakistan" in a report by the Hindustan Times.
The airbase, in Punjab Province, is home to three active Pakistani Air Force squadroms. It has been operational since 1971.
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- Satellite images © 2023 Umbra Lab, Inc. (Licensed under CC BY 4.0)
