A senior French intelligence official told CNN on Wednesday that Pakistan successfully shot down an Indian Air Force Rafale jet—marking the first-ever combat loss of the advanced French-made fighter aircraft.
The confirmation comes just hours after Pakistan’s military announced it had destroyed five Indian jets, including at least three Rafale, during fierce overnight clashes near the disputed Kashmir region.
The French official said that while authorities are still assessing potential additional losses, they have verified that one Rafale was indeed hit by Pakistani forces.
India has not officially acknowledged the loss of any jets. However, footage circulating on social media—geolocated near the Line of Control (LoC)—appears to show wreckage from a sophisticated fighter plane, fueling speculation.
This incident represents a major escalation in the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan, which has been particularly tense since last month’s deadly attack in Pahalgam.
In response to the latest developments, Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) condemned India’s “illegal acts and blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.” In a statement issued after its meeting on Wednesday, the NSC declared that Pakistan “reserves the right to respond in self-defence—at a time, place, and manner of its choosing—to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives.”
