India's Operation Sindoor Strikes 9 Sites in Pakistan, Killing 26; Pakistan Authorizes Retaliation

India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory as part of 'Operation Sindoor,' targeting nine sites it claims were terrorist infrastructure linked to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, India-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu tourists. The strikes hit six locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people, including a 3-year-old girl, according to Pakistani reports. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as an 'act of war' and authorized the country's armed forces to undertake retaliatory actions. The National Security Council of Pakistan met to discuss the situation, labeling the Indian actions as unprovoked, cowardly, and illegal. Pakistan claims to have downed five Indian fighter jets in response, though India has not confirmed this. The strikes targeted sites associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, including the Subhan Mosque in Bahawalpur city and a mosque in Muridke. Pakistan also reported damage to the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project. The escalation follows heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides preparing for potential further military actions.