New Delhi: Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, publicly declared Israel’s support for India’s right to self-defence following the Indian military’s launch of Operation Sindoor. This statement came in the wake of Indian armed forces conducting precision strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
Ambassador Azar emphasised that terrorists should know there is no place to hide from their “heinous crimes against the innocent,” reinforcing Israel’s backing of India’s actions. He posted on X, “Israel supports India’s right for self-defence. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent. #OperationSindoor”.
Operation Sindoor was a coordinated effort by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, targeting terror infrastructure believed to be responsible for orchestrating attacks against India. The strikes were carried out at 1:44 am, using advanced precision munitions and kamikaze drones, and specifically targeted known terrorist camps without hitting any Pakistani military, civilian, or economic sites. Among the sites targeted were the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke.
The Indian Ministry of Defence described the operation as “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature,” highlighting that India had demonstrated restraint in both the selection of targets and the execution of the strikes. The operation was intended as a direct response to the Pahalgam attack and aimed to neutralise top terrorist leaders involved in cross-border terrorism.
The strikes prompted varied international responses. The United States, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated it was closely monitoring the situation and echoed calls for de-escalation, as did President Donald Trump, who expressed hope that tensions would subside quickly. The UAE also urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
Pakistan condemned the Indian strikes, calling them an act of war and alleging civilian casualties, while also claiming to have shot down Indian aircraft in retaliatory actions. India, however, maintained that its actions were precise and avoided civilian or military casualties on the Pakistani side, focusing solely on terror infrastructure.
Israel’s ambassador strongly supported India’s right to self-defence after Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The Indian strikes were described as precise, measured, and non-escalatory, with no Pakistani military or civilian sites targeted. The operation was carried out by all three branches of the Indian military, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitoring the situation throughout the night.
The international community, including the US and UAE, called for restraint and de-escalation, while Pakistan condemned the strikes and vowed to respond.
Operation Sindoor marks a significant escalation in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, with Israel’s endorsement underscoring the growing international support for India’s right to act in self-defence against cross-border terrorism.
