diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-index-management/src/index.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-index-management/src/index.rs
index 901c520b8de..fdd372bb10c 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-index-management/src/index.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-index-management/src/index.rs
@@ -17,21 +17,26 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 // along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use futures_util::StreamExt;
+use itertools::Itertools;
 use quickwit_common::fs::{empty_dir, get_cache_directory_path};
+use quickwit_common::PrettySample;
 use quickwit_config::{validate_identifier, IndexConfig, SourceConfig};
 use quickwit_indexing::check_source_connectivity;
 use quickwit_metastore::{
     AddSourceRequestExt, CreateIndexResponseExt, IndexMetadata, IndexMetadataResponseExt,
-    ListSplitsQuery, ListSplitsRequestExt, MetastoreServiceStreamSplitsExt, SplitInfo,
-    SplitMetadata, SplitState,
+    ListIndexesMetadataResponseExt, ListSplitsQuery, ListSplitsRequestExt,
+    MetastoreServiceStreamSplitsExt, SplitInfo, SplitMetadata, SplitState,
 };
 use quickwit_proto::metastore::{
     serde_utils, AddSourceRequest, CreateIndexRequest, DeleteIndexRequest, EntityKind,
-    IndexMetadataRequest, ListSplitsRequest, MarkSplitsForDeletionRequest, MetastoreError,
-    MetastoreService, MetastoreServiceClient, ResetSourceCheckpointRequest,
+    IndexMetadataRequest, ListIndexesMetadataRequest, ListSplitsRequest,
+    MarkSplitsForDeletionRequest, MetastoreError, MetastoreService, MetastoreServiceClient,
+    ResetSourceCheckpointRequest,
 };
 use quickwit_proto::types::{IndexUid, SplitId};
 use quickwit_proto::{ServiceError, ServiceErrorCode};
@@ -216,6 +221,100 @@ impl IndexService {
         Ok(deleted_splits)
     }
 
+    /// Deletes the indexes specified with `index_id_patterns`.
+    /// This is a wrapper of delete_index, and support index delete with index pattern
+    ///
+    /// * `index_id_patterns` - The targeted index ID patterns.
+    /// * `dry_run` - Should this only return a list of affected files without performing deletion.
+    pub async fn delete_indexes(
+        &self,
+        index_id_patterns: Vec<String>,
+        dry_run: bool,
+    ) -> Result<Vec<SplitInfo>, IndexServiceError> {
+        let list_indexes_metadatas_request = ListIndexesMetadataRequest {
+            index_id_patterns: index_id_patterns.to_owned(),
+        };
+        // disallow index_id patterns containing *
+        for index_id_pattern in &index_id_patterns {
+            if index_id_pattern.contains('*') {
+                return Err(IndexServiceError::Metastore(
+                    MetastoreError::InvalidArgument {
+                        message: format!("index_id pattern {} contains *", index_id_pattern),
+                    },
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut metastore = self.metastore.clone();
+        let indexes_metadata = metastore
+            .list_indexes_metadata(list_indexes_metadatas_request)
+            .await?
+            .deserialize_indexes_metadata()?;
+
+        if indexes_metadata.len() != index_id_patterns.len() {
+            let found_index_ids: HashSet<&str> = indexes_metadata
+                .iter()
+                .map(|index_metadata| index_metadata.index_id())
+                .collect();
+            let missing_index_ids: Vec<String> = index_id_patterns
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|index_id| !found_index_ids.contains(index_id.as_str()))
+                .map(|index_id| index_id.to_string())
+                .collect_vec();
+            return Err(IndexServiceError::Metastore(MetastoreError::NotFound(
+                EntityKind::Indexes {
+                    index_ids: missing_index_ids.to_vec(),
+                },
+            )));
+        }
+        let index_ids = indexes_metadata
+            .iter()
+            .map(|index_metadata| index_metadata.index_id())
+            .collect_vec();
+        info!(index_ids = ?PrettySample::new(&index_ids, 5), "delete indexes");
+
+        // setup delete index tasks
+        let mut delete_index_tasks = Vec::new();
+        for index_id in index_ids {
+            let task = async move {
+                let result = self.clone().delete_index(index_id, dry_run).await;
+                (index_id, result)
+            };
+            delete_index_tasks.push(task);
+        }
+        let mut delete_responses: HashMap<String, Vec<SplitInfo>> = HashMap::new();
+        let mut delete_errors: HashMap<String, IndexServiceError> = HashMap::new();
+        let mut stream = futures::stream::iter(delete_index_tasks).buffer_unordered(100);
+        while let Some((index_id, delete_response)) = stream.next().await {
+            match delete_response {
+                Ok(split_infos) => {
+                    delete_responses.insert(index_id.to_string(), split_infos);
+                }
+                Err(error) => {
+                    delete_errors.insert(index_id.to_string(), error);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if delete_errors.is_empty() {
+            let mut concatenated_split_infos = Vec::new();
+            for (_, split_info_vec) in delete_responses.into_iter() {
+                concatenated_split_infos.extend(split_info_vec);
+            }
+            Ok(concatenated_split_infos)
+        } else {
+            Err(IndexServiceError::Metastore(MetastoreError::Internal {
+                message: format!(
+                    "errors occurred when deleting indexes: {:?}",
+                    index_id_patterns
+                ),
+                cause: format!(
+                    "errors: {:?}\ndeleted indexes: {:?}",
+                    delete_errors, delete_responses
+                ),
+            }))
+        }
+    }
     /// Detect all dangling splits and associated files from the index and removes them.
     ///
     /// * `index_id` - The target index Id.
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/filter.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/filter.rs
index 96ef7c3ae00..ca3f524d2fe 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/filter.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/filter.rs
@@ -172,6 +172,14 @@ pub(crate) fn elastic_index_count_filter(
         .and(json_or_empty())
 }
 
+#[utoipa::path(delete, tag = "Indexes", path = "/{index}")]
+pub(crate) fn elastic_delete_index_filter(
+) -> impl Filter<Extract = (Vec<String>,), Error = Rejection> + Clone {
+    warp::path!("_elastic" / String)
+        .and_then(extract_index_id_patterns)
+        .and(warp::get())
+}
+
 // No support for any query parameters for now.
 #[utoipa::path(get, tag = "Search", path = "/{index}/_stats")]
 pub(crate) fn elastic_index_stats_filter(
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/mod.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/mod.rs
index 02dbf03e1db..94c8bedd8fb 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/mod.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/mod.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ use bulk::{es_compat_bulk_handler, es_compat_index_bulk_handler};
 pub use filter::ElasticCompatibleApi;
 use hyper::StatusCode;
 use quickwit_config::NodeConfig;
+use quickwit_index_management::IndexService;
 use quickwit_ingest::IngestServiceClient;
 use quickwit_proto::ingest::router::IngestRouterServiceClient;
 use quickwit_proto::metastore::MetastoreServiceClient;
@@ -41,9 +42,10 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use warp::{Filter, Rejection};
 
 use self::rest_handler::{
-    es_compat_cat_indices_handler, es_compat_index_cat_indices_handler,
-    es_compat_index_count_handler, es_compat_index_field_capabilities_handler,
-    es_compat_index_stats_handler, es_compat_stats_handler,
+    es_compat_cat_indices_handler, es_compat_delete_index_handler,
+    es_compat_index_cat_indices_handler, es_compat_index_count_handler,
+    es_compat_index_field_capabilities_handler, es_compat_index_stats_handler,
+    es_compat_stats_handler,
 };
 use crate::elasticsearch_api::model::ElasticsearchError;
 use crate::rest_api_response::RestApiResponse;
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ pub fn elastic_api_handlers(
     ingest_service: IngestServiceClient,
     ingest_router: IngestRouterServiceClient,
     metastore: MetastoreServiceClient,
+    index_service: IndexService,
 ) -> impl Filter<Extract = (impl warp::Reply,), Error = Rejection> + Clone {
     es_compat_cluster_info_handler(node_config, BuildInfo::get())
         .or(es_compat_search_handler(search_service.clone()))
@@ -75,6 +78,7 @@ pub fn elastic_api_handlers(
         ))
         .or(es_compat_index_bulk_handler(ingest_service, ingest_router))
         .or(es_compat_index_stats_handler(metastore.clone()))
+        .or(es_compat_delete_index_handler(index_service))
         .or(es_compat_stats_handler(metastore.clone()))
         .or(es_compat_index_cat_indices_handler(metastore.clone()))
         .or(es_compat_cat_indices_handler(metastore.clone()))
@@ -128,10 +132,13 @@ mod tests {
     use assert_json_diff::assert_json_include;
     use mockall::predicate;
     use quickwit_config::NodeConfig;
+    use quickwit_index_management::IndexService;
     use quickwit_ingest::{IngestApiService, IngestServiceClient};
+    use quickwit_metastore::metastore_for_test;
     use quickwit_proto::ingest::router::IngestRouterServiceClient;
     use quickwit_proto::metastore::MetastoreServiceClient;
     use quickwit_search::MockSearchService;
+    use quickwit_storage::StorageResolver;
     use serde_json::Value as JsonValue;
     use warp::Filter;
 
@@ -166,12 +173,15 @@ mod tests {
             ))
             .returning(|_| Ok(Default::default()));
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index":"index-1"}
@@ -217,12 +227,15 @@ mod tests {
             });
 
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index":"index-1"}
@@ -256,12 +269,15 @@ mod tests {
         let mock_search_service = MockSearchService::new();
 
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index":"index-1"
@@ -288,12 +304,15 @@ mod tests {
         let mock_search_service = MockSearchService::new();
 
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index":"index-1"}
@@ -320,12 +339,15 @@ mod tests {
         let mock_search_service = MockSearchService::new();
 
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index":"index-1"}
@@ -351,12 +373,15 @@ mod tests {
         let mock_search_service = MockSearchService::new();
 
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {}
@@ -394,12 +419,15 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             });
         let ingest_router = IngestRouterServiceClient::from(IngestRouterServiceClient::mock());
+        let index_service =
+            IndexService::new(metastore_for_test(), StorageResolver::unconfigured());
         let es_search_api_handler = super::elastic_api_handlers(
             config,
             Arc::new(mock_search_service),
             ingest_service_client(),
             ingest_router,
             MetastoreServiceClient::mock().into(),
+            index_service,
         );
         let msearch_payload = r#"
             {"index": ["index-1", "index-2"]}
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/model/error.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/model/error.rs
index 674800a8509..f6571e9ec70 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/model/error.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/model/error.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 use elasticsearch_dsl::search::ErrorCause;
 use hyper::StatusCode;
+use quickwit_index_management::IndexServiceError;
 use quickwit_ingest::IngestServiceError;
 use quickwit_proto::ingest::IngestV2Error;
 use quickwit_proto::ServiceError;
@@ -108,3 +109,23 @@ impl From<IngestV2Error> for ElasticsearchError {
         }
     }
 }
+
+impl From<IndexServiceError> for ElasticsearchError {
+    fn from(ingest_error: IndexServiceError) -> Self {
+        let status = ingest_error.error_code().to_http_status_code();
+
+        let reason = ErrorCause {
+            reason: Some(ingest_error.to_string()),
+            caused_by: None,
+            root_cause: Vec::new(),
+            stack_trace: None,
+            suppressed: Vec::new(),
+            ty: None,
+            additional_details: Default::default(),
+        };
+        ElasticsearchError {
+            status,
+            error: reason,
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/rest_handler.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/rest_handler.rs
index ed9baf5050b..85d39123253 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/rest_handler.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/elasticsearch_api/rest_handler.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use hyper::StatusCode;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use quickwit_common::truncate_str;
 use quickwit_config::{validate_index_id_pattern, NodeConfig};
+use quickwit_index_management::IndexService;
 use quickwit_metastore::*;
 use quickwit_proto::metastore::MetastoreServiceClient;
 use quickwit_proto::search::{
@@ -46,11 +47,11 @@ use serde_json::json;
 use warp::{Filter, Rejection};
 
 use super::filter::{
-    elastic_cat_indices_filter, elastic_cluster_info_filter, elastic_field_capabilities_filter,
-    elastic_index_cat_indices_filter, elastic_index_count_filter,
-    elastic_index_field_capabilities_filter, elastic_index_search_filter,
-    elastic_index_stats_filter, elastic_multi_search_filter, elastic_scroll_filter,
-    elastic_stats_filter, elasticsearch_filter,
+    elastic_cat_indices_filter, elastic_cluster_info_filter, elastic_delete_index_filter,
+    elastic_field_capabilities_filter, elastic_index_cat_indices_filter,
+    elastic_index_count_filter, elastic_index_field_capabilities_filter,
+    elastic_index_search_filter, elastic_index_stats_filter, elastic_multi_search_filter,
+    elastic_scroll_filter, elastic_stats_filter, elasticsearch_filter,
 };
 use super::model::{
     build_list_field_request_for_es_api, convert_to_es_field_capabilities_response,
@@ -117,6 +118,16 @@ pub fn es_compat_index_field_capabilities_handler(
         .map(|result| make_elastic_api_response(result, BodyFormat::default()))
 }
 
+/// DELETE _elastic/{index}
+pub fn es_compat_delete_index_handler(
+    index_service: IndexService,
+) -> impl Filter<Extract = (impl warp::Reply,), Error = Rejection> + Clone {
+    elastic_delete_index_filter()
+        .and(with_arg(index_service))
+        .then(es_compat_delete_index)
+        .map(|result| make_elastic_api_response(result, BodyFormat::default()))
+}
+
 /// GET _elastic/_stats
 pub fn es_compat_stats_handler(
     search_service: MetastoreServiceClient,
@@ -126,6 +137,7 @@ pub fn es_compat_stats_handler(
         .then(es_compat_stats)
         .map(|result| make_elastic_api_response(result, BodyFormat::default()))
 }
+
 /// GET _elastic/{index}/_stats
 pub fn es_compat_index_stats_handler(
     search_service: MetastoreServiceClient,
@@ -410,6 +422,26 @@ async fn es_compat_index_search(
     Ok(search_response_rest)
 }
 
+/// Returns JSON in the format:
+///
+/// {
+///   "acknowledged": true
+/// }
+#[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+pub struct ElasticsearchDeleteResponse {
+    pub acknowledged: bool,
+}
+
+async fn es_compat_delete_index(
+    index_id_patterns: Vec<String>,
+    index_service: IndexService,
+) -> Result<ElasticsearchDeleteResponse, ElasticsearchError> {
+    index_service
+        .delete_indexes(index_id_patterns, false)
+        .await?;
+    Ok(ElasticsearchDeleteResponse { acknowledged: true })
+}
+
 async fn es_compat_stats(
     metastore: MetastoreServiceClient,
 ) -> Result<ElasticsearchStatsResponse, ElasticsearchError> {
diff --git a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/rest.rs b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/rest.rs
index d80c87377eb..71036164953 100644
--- a/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/rest.rs
+++ b/quickwit/quickwit-serve/src/rest.rs
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ fn api_v1_routes(
                 quickwit_services.ingest_service.clone(),
                 quickwit_services.ingest_router_service.clone(),
                 quickwit_services.metastore_client.clone(),
+                quickwit_services.index_manager.clone(),
             ))
             .or(index_template_api_handlers(
                 quickwit_services.metastore_client.clone(),