Yangon: Myanmar’s military rulers are increasingly relying on large scale infantry assaults and drone warfare as they try to regain ground lost to resistance forces nearly four years after seizing power.
According to recent assessments, the junta has shifted tactics in recent months by launching so called human wave attacks, sending large numbers of troops into direct combat, often supported by artillery fire and drones. This marks a change from earlier phases of the conflict when the military depended more on airstrikes and elite units.
The strategy follows heavy losses suffered by the army since the 2021 coup, as ethnic armed groups and newly formed resistance forces expanded their control across large parts of the country. Analysts say the military has struggled with desertions, low morale and shrinking manpower.
To address this, the junta introduced a nationwide conscription law earlier this year, forcing thousands of young men into military service. Many families have tried to hide or flee to avoid recruitment, while rights groups say the policy has added to public anger against the military leadership.
Alongside conscription, the army has rapidly expanded its use of drones. These include surveillance drones to track resistance movements and armed drones used to strike fighters and suspected supply routes. Security analysts say the military has acquired drone technology from foreign suppliers and adapted commercially available models for combat use.
The increased use of drones has helped the junta coordinate ground assaults and reduce risks to its aircraft, which have been targeted by resistance fighters in several regions. However, drone strikes have also raised concerns about civilian safety, with reports of attacks near villages and displacement camps.
Despite some limited gains in territory, the conflict remains deeply entrenched. Resistance groups continue to control large rural areas, and fighting remains intense in northern and central regions as well as along border areas.
The military’s push comes as it prepares for elections planned later this month, which critics say will lack credibility and exclude major opposition groups. Observers believe the junta is trying to project strength and regain control ahead of the vote.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Millions of people have been displaced by fighting, and aid agencies warn that food shortages and access restrictions could push large parts of the population into deeper crisis if the war continues at its current pace.
With no sign of meaningful dialogue between the military and its opponents, analysts say Myanmar is likely to face prolonged violence, with civilians bearing the heaviest cost of the junta’s evolving battlefield tactics.