Over 19,000 armed clashes in Myanmar since 2021; US rallies planned to back UN Ambassador

Over 19,000 armed clashes in Myanmar since 2021 coup Approximately 19,343 armed clashes between regime and resistance forces, including ethnic armed groups, were recorded across Burma between February 2021 and June, according to DVB data analysis based on the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project. Annual clashes increased from 2,217 in 2021 to 3,710 in 2022 and 3,870 in 2023, before stabilizing at 3,865 in 2024 and 3,957 in 2025. An additional 1,616 clashes were documented during the first six months of 2026. The report found that the conflict expanded from initial hotspots in Sagaing Region, Shan State and Kachin State into a nationwide, multi-front war. Sagaing emerged as the country’s primary battlefield in 2022 as fighting spread across central Burma, particularly Magway Region. By 2024, Arakan State had become a major conflict theatre following fighting between regime forces and the Arakan Army (AA), while conflict expanded further into Bago and Ayeyarwady regions in 2025. Airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force increased more than 30-fold during the reporting period, rising from 90 incidents in 2021 to 312 in 2022, 656 in 2023, 1,859 in 2024 and 2,871 in 2025. A further 1,386 airstrikes were recorded since January. Sagaing recorded the highest number at 1,529 documented airstrikes, followed by Arakan State with 868, Shan State with 820, Magway Region with 705 and Mandalay Region with 679. US rallies planned to back UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun Members of the diaspora from Burma across the U.S. are preparing for a series of nationwide public rallies this September. The campaign aims to ensure that Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun—a staunch critic of the regime in Naypyidaw—retains his seat as Burma’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations at the upcoming 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly. Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed under Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian National League for Democracy (NLD) administration in October 2020. Since the military seized power in February 2021, he has used his platform to vehemently denounce the regime and represent the ousted civilian government. The rallies are timed to coincide with a critical diplomatic juncture. Regime admits to systematic removal of Aung San statues In a rare public acknowledgement of an escalating nationwide campaign, the military regime has confirmed it is removing statues of General Aung San, the country’s independence hero and father of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Regime spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe stated on July 10 that authorities have been inspecting monuments in over 100 townships. She claimed the removals are not a wholesale erasure of the General’s legacy. “Some media outlets are currently reporting the removal of General Aung San statues in certain areas. In reality, not all statues… are being removed; rather, only statues with incorrect proportions and shapes are being reviewed and handled in accordance with the law,” Khaing Khaing Soe said in a statement on social media on July 10. News by Region AYEYARWADY—A mother and a 10-year-old boy were killed, at least four civilians were injured, and an unknown number of homes were destroyed during artillery attacks carried out by the Burma Army on Yekyi Township’s Zirosan village July 8-9. Yekyi is located 53 miles (85 km) north of the region’s capital Pathein. Regime forces opened fire due to the alleged deployment of the AA and the People Defense’s Force (PDF) in the village, a military source told DVB. The regime carried out retaliatory air and artillery attacks after the AA launched attacks on the regime’s Artillery Battalion 344 in Yekyi on May 10. MAGWAY—The PDF in Chauk Township told DVB that an unknown number of PDF members were “shot to death” by regime troops with videos of the alleged executions circulating online on Friday. Chauk, located 71 miles (114 km) north of the region’s capital Magway, is contested between the PDF and the military. The PDF told DVB that regime forces violated the Geneva Conventions by executing an unknown number of detained PDF members. A total of 20 PDF members were killed in Chauk on July 10 as they launched an attack on regime forces that were advancing toward Chin State, where a regime counteroffensive began in April. MON—Residents in Mudon Township told DVB that two people were injured after strong winds toppled a tree that destroyed two homes and the stupa of a Buddhist monastery on Sunday. Mudon is located 16 miles (25 km) south of the state capital Mawlamyine. Mudon residents added that the two injured people are receiving medical treatment at hospitals in Mudon and Mawlamyine. Local rescue team members in Mudon told DVB that trees had collapsed and a power transformer was destroyed by strong wind on July 11. The post Over 19,000 armed clashes in Myanmar since 2021; US rallies planned to back UN Ambassador appeared first on DVB.