The Balakot airstrike occurred on February 26, 2019, when Indian Air Force jets conducted airstrikes targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan and killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the terror group.
The airstrike was a response to the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019, where a suicide bomber affiliated with the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted a convoy of Indian paramilitary personnel, resulting in the martyrdom of over 40 soldiers.
India attributed the Pulwama attack to Jaish-e-Mohammed and its support from Pakistan. The Balakot airstrike was conducted as a punitive measure, aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of terrorist groups operating in Pakistan and sending a strong message against cross-border terrorism.