The conflict in Myanmar has persisted for five years following a 2021 coup, with the military devising new methods to combat those advocating for democracy and cessation of ethnic repression. Unlike conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, this war has received minimal attention.
In 2021, former army chief U Min Aung Hlaing executed a coup, removing the elected government. This led to a full-scale war, with the military against numerous rebel groups aiming to overthrow the generals’ regime. U Min Aung Hlaing recently positioned himself as president after a controlled election, attempting to present Myanmar as business-friendly despite severe internal strife.
April saw the highest civilian death toll since the coup, reports say. In 2025, Myanmar was deemed the world’s most extreme conflict zone except for the Palestinian territories, according to conflict monitor A.C.L.E.D. Over 90,000 people have died since the war began. The war is highly fragmented, with more than 1,200 armed groups; over half the country is under rebel control, but recent military offenses threaten this resistance.
The United Nations estimates nearly 4 million people have fled their homes in this nation of about 50 million. A quarter of the population faces critical hunger. Many are driven overseas for menial jobs due to military conscription threats and high unemployment. Myanmar has the most land mines globally, with soldiers planting them in civilian areas, widely deemed a war crime. The resulting casualties from land mines are significant.
After elections in December and January, the military increased offensives, destroying resistance strongholds with burnings and airstrikes. March’s bombing campaign included over 240 strikes and caused at least 400 deaths.
The military employs advanced weapons like fighter jets and drones, mainly from Russia and China. Rebel groups lack a stable arms supply, and hopes for Western aid in their democratic fight have faded.
Hannah Beech, based in Bangkok, has covered Asia for over 25 years, focusing on in-depth investigative stories.
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