Naypyidaw: Myanmar's military has sharply increased attacks on civilians during the first half of 2026, according to a new report by conflict monitoring group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, known as ACLED. The findings come at a time when the country's military leaders are trying to strengthen diplomatic ties with neighboring countries and improve relations with regional partners, creating a stark contrast between events on the ground and the junta's international engagement.
The report says violence against civilians has intensified since changes in Myanmar's military leadership earlier this year. ACLED recorded more than a dozen mass killing incidents between January and June, resulting in the deaths of more than 450 civilians. Many of these attacks were carried out in villages across central Myanmar, particularly in the Anyar or Dry Zone region, which has become one of the main strongholds of armed resistance groups fighting the military government.
Researchers said the military has increasingly relied on targeted air strikes and coordinated assaults by ground forces instead of large scale battlefield operations. Fighter aircraft have reportedly been used to strike villages believed to be linked to resistance fighters, but rights groups say civilians have often been among the victims. The report warns that military operations are becoming more focused and more deadly, especially in areas where resistance groups enjoy strong local support.
The latest findings come after a leadership reshuffle within Myanmar's armed forces. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military after the 2021 coup, became the country's civilian president earlier this year, while General Ye Win Oo took over as commander in chief of the armed forces. Despite the leadership changes, ACLED says military operations have become even more aggressive, suggesting the new command structure has not reduced violence.
One of the deadliest incidents highlighted in recent months took place in May near the historic city of Bagan. According to residents interviewed by international media, hundreds of junta troops entered villages in Myit Chay Township during a military operation that left at least 40 civilians dead. Witnesses described homes being searched and residents fleeing to nearby forests to escape the violence.
The military government has rejected accusations that it deliberately targets civilians. It maintains that its operations are directed only against what it describes as terrorist groups and armed opponents seeking to destabilize the country. However, human rights organizations and independent conflict monitors argue that evidence collected from affected areas shows repeated attacks on villages, schools, religious buildings and other civilian locations.
The worsening violence has also drawn renewed concern from the United Nations. Recent assessments by the UN Human Rights Office indicate that hundreds of civilians have been killed in military operations over the past several months. The agency has warned that continued fighting, combined with limited humanitarian access, is worsening the suffering of millions of people across Myanmar.
Since the military seized power in February 2021 by overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country has been engulfed in a nationwide civil conflict. Armed resistance groups, together with several ethnic armed organizations, continue to fight the military in many parts of the country. The prolonged conflict has displaced millions of people, damaged health care and education services, and created one of the region's most serious humanitarian crises.
Despite the deteriorating security situation, Myanmar's leadership has stepped up diplomatic engagement in recent months. President Min Aung Hlaing has visited countries including China, India and Thailand as the junta seeks to reduce its international isolation. Regional governments have cautiously resumed limited contacts with Myanmar, although the country remains excluded from high level meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations because it has failed to implement the bloc's Five Point Consensus peace plan.
Analysts believe the military's intensified operations may be aimed at weakening resistance forces before any future political developments or negotiations. At the same time, the government appears eager to present an image of stability abroad in an effort to rebuild regional relationships and attract greater diplomatic recognition.
The latest ACLED report is expected to increase international pressure on Myanmar's military leadership. Human rights groups continue to urge the global community to take stronger action to protect civilians and ensure accountability, while humanitarian agencies warn that without greater international support, millions of people caught in the conflict will remain at risk.