US Advises Citizens To Leave Lahore Or Shelter-In-Place Amid Drone Strikes And Airspace Breach Fears

May 8, 2025: The United States Consulate in Lahore has issued an urgent advisory for its citizens to evacuate or shelter-in-place following reports of drone explosions, downed drones, and potential airspace incursions in and around the city.

In an official statement, the US Consulate General said that all consulate personnel have been instructed to shelter-in-place amid the ongoing security concerns. The advisory also urged US citizens to ensure their travel documents are current and easily accessible, have contingency evacuation plans that do not rely on US government assistance, and to stay informed via local media.

“US citizens who find themselves in an area of active conflict should leave if they can do so safely. If it is not safe to leave, they should shelter-in-place,” the consulate stated.

The advisory also noted preliminary reports of possible evacuations around Lahore’s main airport, underscoring the growing tension following Operation Sindoor, a major Indian military offensive launched on May 7.

According to Indian defence sources, Indian Armed Forces used Harpy drones, specifically designed to target radar systems, to neutralise Pakistan’s air defence system in Lahore. The drone strikes were part of a broader operation responding to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians including one Nepali national.

Operation Sindoor involved precision air strikes on nine key terror camps associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen, located deep inside Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Targets in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sarjal, and Mehmoona Joya in Pakistan, along with five other locations in PoJK, were destroyed in the offensive.

In retaliation, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks at various Indian military installations in Northern and Western India, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Srinagar, and Bhuj. These were effectively neutralised by India’s S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence systems and Integrated Counter-UAS Grid. Debris is currently being recovered to verify the Pakistani strikes.

Meanwhile, the Line of Control (LoC) remains volatile, with intensified mortar and artillery shelling from Pakistan in areas including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri. At least 16 civilians, including three women and five children, have lost their lives in the cross-border firing.

The Indian Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to restraint and non-escalation, stressing that their actions have been measured and non-provocative, with no Pakistani military installations targeted—only terrorist infrastructure.