Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Thailand News and Discussion Forum | ASEANNOW

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Iran-linked ‘ghost ships’ fuel Myanmar air strikes

Featured Replies

314380-1536x985.jpg

Aviation fuel used in deadly air strikes against civilians is still flowing into Myanmar, despite international sanctions, through a shadowy network of vessels linked to Iran, Amnesty International has revealed.

The rights group’s latest investigation shows the military junta has adopted sanction‑evasion tactics similar to those used by Russia, Iran and North Korea. Tankers dubbed “ghost ships” are switching off their tracking systems, falsifying positions and repeatedly changing names or flags to conceal their movements.

Amnesty analysed trade records, satellite imagery and port authority data, confirming at least nine shipments of aviation fuel between mid‑2024 and the end of 2025. Two of the vessels involved are already under US sanctions for exporting fuel from Iran. Commodity intelligence firm Kpler believes all shipments on those vessels originated in Iran, while satellite evidence points to loading at Bandar Abbas port.

The scale of imports is striking. Myanmar brought in more than 109,000 tonnes of aviation fuel in 2025 – a 69% rise on the previous year and the highest since the coup in 2021. Amnesty says this surge coincided with the deadliest year yet for aerial attacks, with civilians repeatedly targeted.

Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s Regional Research Director, warned: “Five years after the coup, our analysis shows the junta continues to evade sanctions and find new ways to import the jet fuel it uses to bomb its own civilians. Every day of inaction will cost more lives.”

Among the vessels tracked were the Chinese‑flagged HUITONG 78 and YONG SHENG 56, both seen loading in the UAE before sailing to Myanmar. The Guinea‑flagged REEF and NOBLE delivered multiple shipments, with satellite imagery placing them at Iranian ports despite AIS data suggesting otherwise – a clear sign of spoofing.

The findings highlight how Myanmar’s supply chain has “gone rogue”, shifting from direct sales to complex reselling and ship‑to‑ship transfers designed to obscure origins. Amnesty has urged governments and companies to act decisively, warning that continued fuel flows will prolong the conflict and civilian suffering.

Since seizing power in 2021, the military has relied heavily on air strikes to suppress resistance. Rights groups say cutting off aviation fuel is one of the few measures that could limit its capacity to attack civilians.

logo.jpg

-2026-01-26

ThaiVisa, c'est aussi en français

ThaiVisa, it's also in French

Iran-linked ‘ghost ships’ fuel Myanmar air strikes

If the ships that are international sanctioned, and be proven to to act Illegally ,why don't they stop them or sink them as a last resort .

Just now, digger70 said:

Iran-linked ‘ghost ships’ fuel Myanmar air strikes

If the ships that are international sanctioned, and be proven to to act Illegally ,why don't they stop them or sink them as a last resort .

Full of oil, I doubt it.....😒

6 hours ago, digger70 said:

Iran-linked ‘ghost ships’ fuel Myanmar air strikes

If the ships that are international sanctioned, and be proven to to act Illegally ,why don't they stop them or sink them as a last resort .

Who is they?

59 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Who is they?

For sure it won't be the Chinese, North Korea or Russia as they all trade with Myanmar, even before the war. NK get their uranium from Myanmar.

The US have no involvement.

Maybe India in the future, but for now, nobody is interested in the civil war.

On 1/28/2026 at 12:22 PM, transam said:

Full of oil, I doubt it.....😒

Yea why not? oil comes out of the ground'/earth it can return to earth eventually .

On 1/28/2026 at 6:25 PM, emptypockets said:

Who is they?

Who ever sanctioned the Ghost Ships ..thumbsup

53 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Yea why not? oil comes out of the ground'/earth it can return to earth eventually .

Tell me where the oil will end up........🙄

Just now, transam said:

Tell me where the oil will end up........🙄

It will end up where it came from, it will eventually soak back in the earth even the oil that's been spilled in the oceans just look what has happen in all the Warships that has been sunk that oil has gone back down to earth,

4 minutes ago, digger70 said:

It will end up where it came from, it will eventually soak back in the earth even the oil that's been spilled in the oceans just look what has happen in all the Warships that has been sunk that oil has gone back down to earth,

It would seem you are a bit confused at the damage a super tanker can do, have a read...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrey_Canyon_oil_spill

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.