UN Investigation Finds Myanmar Military Escalating Aerial Attacks on Civilians

A United Nations investigation released Tuesday found that Myanmar's military has increasingly used low cost aircraft, including motorized paragliders, gyrocopters, and drones, to carry out aerial attacks that kill civilians. The report by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) noted a notable escalation in these attacks in the months preceding army organized elections in December and January, and stated that the violence has continued unabated since. Investigators documented the use of double tap strikes, where a second attack follows the first to target first responders and those fleeing. In the Sagaing region, pilots allegedly cut engines to glide silently toward targets, leaving civilians with little warning.

The IIMM gathered evidence from over 1,600 sources and witnesses to document alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. These include arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence. The report also notes that the IIMM is investigating serious crimes allegedly committed by opposition armed groups, such as the Arakan Army, including summary executions, child recruitment, and sexual violence against Rohingya Muslim women. Separately, the Arakan Army reported that approximately 20 civilians were killed and 22 injured in airstrikes across three townships between August 1 and August 11.

The military government has not responded to the UN probe or the specific allegations from the Arakan Army, though it has previously stated it only attacks legitimate targets and labels resistance forces as terrorists. Critics have dismissed the recent elections as a sham intended to consolidate power following the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed and over 31,000 arrested by security forces since 2021.