RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Sheikh Zayed International Airport (SZIA) in Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district — a prominent symbol of Pakistan-UAE friendship — suffered major infrastructure damage after being hit by an air-to-surface missile and a drone launched by India in the early hours of Saturday.
According to Deputy Commissioner Khuram Javed, the Royal Lounge, used by the UAE president and his family, was completely destroyed, and the attack left a 10-foot-wide crater on the airport’s apron area.
While commercial operations at the airport have been suspended since 2023, it is occasionally used by members of the Abu Dhabi royal family. The UAE embassy has been officially notified of the damage.
Residents living near the facility reported hearing powerful explosions around 4:15am, jolting the area awake and causing widespread alarm.
Named after the late UAE leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, SZIA holds diplomatic and strategic significance. The airport has previously played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, particularly during the 1973 and 2010 floods, by supporting logistics and relief operations.
