WEB DESK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged that weapons supplied by Israel were utilized by India during “Operation Sindoor,” a cross-border military operation in which New Delhi targeted Pakistani positions under the guise of combating terrorism.
In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu stated that the weaponry provided earlier proved effective in combat. He emphasized, “The equipment we supplied has been battle-tested and performed very well on the field,” while also indicating plans to expand Israel’s military involvement in Gaza.
During the four-day clash, which erupted after India—without presenting concrete evidence—accused Pakistan of orchestrating a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, heavy artillery exchanges, drone strikes, and air raids took place between the two nuclear-armed nations. Pakistan responded with a significant retaliatory campaign, dubbed “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting multiple Indian military sites across various regions. Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, along with numerous drones. The conflict concluded on May 10 after 87 hours with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Following discussions with the Indian ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, Netanyahu spoke to senior Indian journalists, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to strengthening “security and economic cooperation.” Indian media reports indicate that Netanyahu confirmed the involvement of Israeli-supplied systems, such as the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system and HARPY drones, in India’s operations during the conflict.
“The systems we provided have proven their worth on the battlefield,” Netanyahu remarked. “We develop our weapons through real-world testing, and they have demonstrated their effectiveness.” He also hinted at plans to intensify military activities in Gaza.
According to Indian reports, India deployed jointly developed Barak-8 missile systems alongside Israeli HARPY drones to counter Pakistani missile strikes during the May confrontation. Other systems, including the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system and various domestically produced weapons, were also employed.
The HARPY drone is designed for “suppression of enemy air defenses,” capable of autonomously locating and destroying radar installations with high-explosive warheads. The Barak-8 system provides 360-degree coverage and can intercept multiple aerial threats within a 100 km radius.
Israel’s support for India’s military actions was explicitly expressed. Kobbi Shoshani, Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai, referred to Operation Sindoor as “an act of self-defense” and expressed pride in the operation.
Israel remains one of India’s leading arms suppliers, with over $2.9 billion in exports over the past decade, including radars, drones, and missile systems. Despite ongoing hostilities in Gaza, Israel has continued uninterrupted weapons deliveries to India. Other major arms suppliers to India include Russia ($21.8 billion), France ($5.2 billion), and the United States ($4.5 billion)
