In a latest development, Myanmar's leading pro-democracy resistance group declared that its armed division launched drone attacks on the airport and a military base in the capital, Naypyitaw. However, the country's ruling military contradicted this assertion, stating that it intercepted and destroyed the drones before any damage was inflicted.
The National Unity Government's Defense Ministry, representing the opposition, asserted that specialized units of the People's Defense Force utilized drones to simultaneously target specific locations. The National Unity Government (NUG) claims legitimacy as Myanmar's rightful governing body, while the People's Defense Force comprises various local resistance factions operating with significant autonomy.
The NUG reported casualties resulting from the attacks, although the military dismissed these claims, affirming that it successfully neutralized seven drones without any reported injuries.
Independent verification of the incident remains challenging due to limited access to information.
Myanmar has been embroiled in turmoil since the military ousted the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The coup sparked nationwide protests met with violent suppression, escalating into an armed resistance resembling a civil war.
The airport compound, situated approximately 25 kilometers southwest of the targeted military headquarters, encompasses both a military airbase and a civilian airport.
The resistance group behind the attack, known as Kloud Team (Shar Htoo Waw), specializes in drone warfare, a tactic frequently employed by the People's Defense Force, which lacks the military's conventional firepower.
Kloud Team claimed responsibility for targeting Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's residence, along with the military headquarters and airbase.
Despite the military's significant advantage in resources and personnel, it has struggled to suppress the resistance movement, resorting to frequent airstrikes in contested regions. Civilian casualties have been widespread, with approximately 2.4 million individuals displaced since the military takeover in 2021.
Drones have emerged as indispensable tools for the resistance, initially utilized for reconnaissance purposes before evolving into sophisticated systems capable of delivering payloads onto military installations. Resistance groups frequently document their drone attacks on social media platforms.
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