Pakistan launched drone and artillery strikes on 26 Indian military targets across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and other northwestern states. Indian military officials confirmed three injuries and several fatalities. Over 400 Turkish-made Songar drones were reportedly used. Targeted locations included Jammu, Samba, Pathankot, Srinagar, Amritsar, Barmer, and Bhuj, among others.

A series of explosions rocked Jammu on Friday night following a sudden blackout. Local residents reported witnessing red flares and blasts lighting up the night sky. Rasul Singh, a resident, told Al Jazeera that the power went out around 8 PM local time, and 15–30 minutes later, drone attacks began. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed ongoing blackouts and sirens throughout the city, later tweeting that heavy artillery fire could be heard from his location.

Panic and anxiety are spreading across Indian cities as fears mount over the escalating tensions with Pakistan. Many residents spent a sleepless night amid uncertainty and fear, as nuclear-armed neighbors exchange accusations of cross-border attacks. India claims to have shot down Pakistani drones, while confusion reigns online as rumors mix with facts, heightening public anxiety. From Delhi to Bengaluru, emergency preparedness drills are underway. Air raid sirens and blackout simulations are adding to the panic. People evacuated from border areas are struggling with sudden expenses for household essentials, unsure of when—or if—they will return home.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has claimed that India stands isolated on the global stage, with Israel being its only clear ally. “Most countries around the world have taken a neutral stance on the current situation,” Asif said. He highlighted that among Pakistan’s allies, China, Turkey, and Azerbaijan have expressed unequivocal support for Pakistan. The Pakistani government remains in daily contact with key partners including Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has alleged that the Pakistan Army launched coordinated attacks along the western border on the nights of May 8 and 9, using drones and missiles to target Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot in Punjab. Islamabad has denied these claims.

At least six people were killed and 29 others injured in overnight shelling by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and surrounding areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officials said on Friday. Among the injured were nine women and three children.

Since the escalation began on Wednesday, a total of 17 people have been killed and 51 injured in cross-border shelling. Local authorities also reported damage to 139 residential homes, either partially or completely destroyed due to the ongoing conflict.

Pakistan’s military has claimed that it has destroyed 77 Indian drones, including 25 Israeli-made models, for violating its airspace. According to Sama TV, six more drones were shot down on Friday across several districts in Punjab province. Military sources confirmed that the drones were detected by radar systems before being intercepted by air defense units.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, stated, “Every drone that enters our airspace is detected on radar. Our air defense system is capable of tracking even small drones.”

Authorities reported that most of the drones crashed in agricultural fields, minimizing potential damage. However, the drone incidents have caused civilian casualties — three people were killed, and seven others, including four soldiers, were injured.

Hamas reported that its fighters killed 19 Israeli soldiers in Rafah’s eastern Al-Tannur neighborhood. Seven soldiers were reportedly killed in a bombing near the Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz Mosque. Another 12 were killed when an Israeli engineering unit was ambushed using anti-personnel and anti-armor shells near Al-Fidai junction.

According to Reuters, citing U.S. officials, Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets to launch air-to-air missiles that downed at least two Indian aircraft. One of the jets was reportedly a French-made Rafale. India has yet to acknowledge any aircraft losses. Pakistan previously claimed it had destroyed five Indian warplanes, including three Rafales.

Several Israeli soldiers from the elite Golani Brigade were killed or wounded in a powerful explosion in Rafah while attempting to demolish a building, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli military has imposed a media blackout on the incident. Helicopters later evacuated the casualties, but reports suggest some soldiers may still be trapped under rubble. Intense fighting continues, particularly in Rafah’s Al-Jeneina area, where Hamas claims fierce face-to-face combat is underway. In the past 24 hours, over 100 Palestinians have been killed amid escalating violence.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declined to confirm or deny Pakistan’s claims of downing five Indian fighter jets and killing 50 Indian soldiers in recent cross-border clashes. When asked, Misri said the government would release official information at an appropriate time. He also refused to respond to claims made by Pakistani Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and commented only briefly on Pakistan’s reported loss of 100 lives, urging the media to wait as only 36 hours had passed since the airstrikes.

Multiple drone attacks have been reported in Jammu’s Akhnoor, Samba, and Kathua areas. Pakistani drones reportedly used loitering munitions—drones equipped with warheads that target specific locations. Indian air defense responded with counterfire. Witnesses near Jammu airport counted at least 16 fallen objects. Sirens blared as markets closed and the city plunged into a blackout.

India reported that 16 of its citizens, including three women and five children, were killed in unprovoked shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday. Mortars and heavy artillery were allegedly fired across sectors in Jammu and Kashmir including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri. India has called for an immediate ceasefire and claimed to have targeted several Pakistani air defense installations in retaliation. Pakistan, in turn, claimed it destroyed 25 Indian drones.

The US Consulate in Lahore issued an advisory urging American staff to seek shelter or evacuate areas near the city’s main airport, as local authorities began evacuating neighborhoods near conflict zones. The consulate stressed the need for vigilance and security precautions as regional tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.

Pakistan’s military claims it shot down 25 Israeli-made Heron drones deployed by India during a recent confrontation. The Pakistani armed forces say they fully utilized both “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” capabilities. The retaliatory strike, according to Pakistan, resulted in the destruction of five Indian fighter jets and casualties among Indian troops. The military has begun collecting debris from the downed drones across various regions and asserts its full readiness to respond to any further aggression.

Following Pakistan’s claim of destroying a military headquarters and five advanced aircraft in response to Indian airstrikes, the Indian government has ordered the closure of at least 21 airports in the northern region until May 10. The affected airports are located in Jammu and Kashmir, Leh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This precautionary measure, effective until 5:29 AM on May 10, has led to mass cancellation of domestic flights amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.