Myanmar military increasing diplomatic activities while civilian killings intensify, says ACLED

The Myanmar military has been significantly increasing its killings of civilians while simultaneously intensifying its regional diplomatic engagement, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) said on July 27. According to ACLED, since the new military chief, Senior General Ye Win Oo, took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services in late March, the military’s operational patterns have changed, with increased crackdowns and airstrikes against civilians. "Following the restructuring of the military’s command, civilians have been facing more intense crackdowns and aerial bombardments," ACLED stated in its release. It also stated that special aerial strike units, comprising two to five fighter jets, are being regularly used to carry out continuous aerial attacks on the same targets. Reuters sought comment from a Myanmar government spokesperson but received no immediate response. ACLED collects data on conflicts occurring in Myanmar based on reports from media, regional partner organizations, the United Nations, international monitoring groups, and local human rights organizations. Reuters reported that since the military coup against the civilian government in February 2021, a civil war has broken out in Myanmar, resulting in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people and forcing millions to flee their homes. Former military chief Min Aung Hlaing appointed his loyalist, former intelligence chief Ye Win Oo, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services just days before taking over the presidency. Under Ye Win Oo’s leadership, the military has resumed offensives in many regions, including border areas where rare mineral deposits and important trade routes are located, according to ACLED. ACLED commented, "Following Min Aung Hlaing’s transition from military leader to civilian president, it is almost impossible for civilians to find relief as the military junta prioritizes consolidating its power." Over 450 Civilians Killed in First Half of 2026 According to ACLED data, more than 10 mass killing incidents were recorded in the first half of 2026, resulting in the deaths of over 450 civilians. Approximately 40 percent of these fatalities were from the Ayeyarwady region. In May, the military conducted operations in Myitche town, across the river from Bagan, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 local residents, three locals told Reuters. Ye Naung, a 35-year-old local resident, said, "About 700 soldiers entered the town, took people's belongings, and then beat and killed them." While Reuters could not independently verify the Myitche incident, ACLED’s database records it as an incident with at least five deaths, and local media have also reported on it. ACLED commented, "In 2026, the military's tactics have only changed in the form of civilian crackdowns; their intensity has not yet decreased." Meanwhile, following political power transitions, Min Aung Hlaing has visited India and China, intensifying regional diplomatic activities. Furthermore, engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which had excluded military leaders from its summits after the 2021 coup, has also begun to re-emerge, Reuters reported.