Myanmar junta accused of mass killings

Myanmar’s military has intensified attacks on civilians since a new commander took charge in March, according to conflict monitors, with more than 450 people killed in mass killings this year alone.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports that the escalation follows the appointment of General Ye Win Oo as commander‑in‑chief, replacing Min Aung Hlaing who became president in April. ACLED says Ye Win Oo’s tactics include sustained airstrikes by groups of jet fighters and sweeping ground offensives in border regions.

The crackdown has been particularly brutal in the country’s central dry zone, where around 40% of civilian deaths have occurred. In May, hundreds of troops stormed Myit Chay township near Bagan, killing at least 40 residents, according to local witnesses. ACLED describes the military’s approach as “shifting modalities of civilian repression” rather than any easing of violence.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021, sparking a civil war that has claimed some 100,000 lives and displaced millions. The latest surge in killings comes as Min Aung Hlaing seeks to bolster his legitimacy abroad, with visits to India and China already completed and a trip to Thailand scheduled for 6–7 August.

Regional governments are cautiously re‑engaging with Myanmar, though the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continues to bar junta leaders from its summits. Diplomats say the renewed violence complicates efforts to bring the generals back into the fold.

For civilians, the outlook remains bleak. With air raids and mass arrests continuing, rights groups warn that the junta is tightening its grip rather than loosening it. As ACLED notes, “reprieve for civilians is unlikely” while the military consolidates control under its new leadership.

-2026-07-28