IAF commemorates Op Sindoor anniversary with 88-hour run

Commemorating the first anniversary of the successful air operations conducted during Operation Sindoor that lasted nearly 88 hours, the Indian Air Force organised an 88-hour run in a continuous relay format from May 7-10 in Delhi.

The route encompassed important landmarks in the capital, including the India Gate, Brigadier Hoshiyar Singh Marg, Air HQ Vayu Bhawan, Nehru Park and the New Moti Bagh Road, before concluding at the Air Force Station in New Delhi, officials said.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, 2025, to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, with Indian forces conducting precision strikes on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

The strikes triggered a rapid escalation in tensions, with Pakistan launching retaliatory strikes, though most of them were thwarted by the Indian military.

The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after both sides reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.

The commemorative run marked the first anniversary of “88 hours of successful air operations carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF), which demonstrated its capability to deliver decisive and precise strikes”, the defence ministry said.

A total of 600 participants from across the commands of the IAF and the Army took part in the event – 'Operation Sindoor Commemorative Run' – held from May 7 to 10, the ministry said in a statement.

The successful conduct of the run was not only a tribute to the significant milestone in the IAF's operational history, but also a testament to the excellent teamwork achieved through public engagement, showcasing the ethos of the force, the ministry said.

“The run was organised in a continuous relay format for 88 hours, in which civil authorities played a vital role. Civilian volunteers also participated in the run with a lot of vigour,” it added.

The event was flagged off on May 7 at 01:05 hours by the Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA) from the India Gate and concluded with a flag-in by the Chief of the Air Staff at 17:00 hours on May 10 at the Air Force Station, the statement said.

The run aimed to foster a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty among the IAF personnel while enhancing public outreach and visibility of the Indian armed forces, it said.

An IAF jazz band performed at Nehru Park on May 10 as a part of the associated activities, the statement added.