Myanmar’s military has significantly increased attacks on civilians following a recent shift in its leadership, according to a conflict monitoring organization. This escalation coincides with heightened diplomatic activity by Myanmar’s ruling junta as it seeks regional legitimacy.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reported that since the military’s leadership restructure in late March, civilians have been subjected to intensified repression and more frequent aerial bombings. The group noted the deployment of specialized teams using two to five jet fighters to carry out sustained airstrikes on individual targets.
A spokesperson for the Myanmar government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
ACLED’s findings are based on data collected from media reports, local partners, United Nations sources, international monitoring bodies, and human rights organizations operating within Myanmar. The analysis highlights that military chief Min Aung Hlaing appointed Ye Win Oo, a long-time loyalist and former intelligence official, as the new commander-in-chief shortly before assuming the presidency in April after an election widely criticized for its exclusion of opposition parties.
Under Ye Win Oo’s command, the military has intensified assaults in various border regions, including areas with significant rare earth mineral deposits and key trade routes. ACLED indicated that the junta appears focused on consolidating power amid the political transition, with little indication of easing pressure on civilian populations.
During the first six months of 2026, ACLED recorded over 20 drone attacks resulting in more than 450 civilian deaths. Approximately 40 percent of these fatalities occurred in Myanmar’s central dry zone, known as the Anya region. One reported incident in May involved the military sweeping through Myit Chay township near the ancient temples of Bagan, where at least 40 people were reportedly killed. Residents described a large military presence carrying out seizures of property, beatings, and killings. While these accounts could not be independently verified, the township’s inclusion in ACLED’s database lists multiple civilian casualties.
ACLED concluded that military tactics in 2026 reflect a shift in methods rather than any lessening of violence against civilians.
Meanwhile, Min Aung Hlaing has increased diplomatic engagement with neighboring countries, visiting India and China in recent months. Myanmar has also sought to reengage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which had excluded Myanmar’s generals from its summits following the 2021 coup. Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to make an official visit to Thailand on August 6 and 7 as part of efforts to secure broader regional acceptance for his administration.