Myanmar military drone strike kills civilian, escalates tensions in key port town

A Myanmar military drone strike launched from a navy base near the Chinese-backed port town of Kyaukphyu, Rakhine State, killed one civilian, injured another, and damaged about ten homes in a village on Thursday, according to local residents.Based on reports by Rakhine-based media, the first drone assault consisted of at least six bombs which set several homes on fire. A second strike, which occurred approximately 45 minutes later, caused further civilian casualties.“Around 1pm yesterday, the drone attacks were carried out twice, killing a 61-year-old man and wounding another,” a local man from Kyaukphyu told Myanmar Now.Many residents had already fled the area following previous drone and airstrikes that destroyed homes and rice supplies. That same day, a junta naval vessel shelled Zin Chaung village, about 30 miles from Kyaukphyu, though no casualties were reported.Fighting between The Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic armed group based in Rakhine State, and junta troops has become most intense near the villages of Sitaw, Shauk Chaung, Simaw, and Sai Khon. These villages are near the vicinity of a junta naval base in Kyaukphyu Township, the source said.“The battle is fierce. And both sides are constantly firing.” The aftermath of an airstrike, which burned houses in Kyet Taing village on March 7. (Photo: Arakkha Minthamee Media) Fighting in Kyaukphyu erupted on February 20 when junta forces attacked AA positions near Simaw and Kyet Taing villages, close to the Danyawaddy Naval Base. As fighting escalated, the residents from approximately 10 villages fled their homes. The military junta has intensified its use of drones and airstrikes in Kyaukphyu, leading to growing civilian casualties. On March 6, a drone attack on U Gine village burned nearly the entire village of 170 homes to the ground. Days before, on February 22, a 70-year-old man, U Bi Luu, was killed in an airstrike.On March 10, another drone strike hit Kat Thapyay village, injuring a 56-year-old man and setting fire to about 20 homes, according to Arakkha Minthamee Media. The junta has also used drone strikes in Sittwe while artillery units have shelled surrounding villages, causing further destruction.Kyaukphyu is a major business hub for Chinese investments, which hosts several military units, including the No-34 Infantry Battalion in the city, the No-542, and No-543 Light Infantry Battalions (LIB), including the naval base. Despite ongoing clashes with the AA, the junta continues to push forward with the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and deep-sea port project, with deputy junta leader Soe Win recently reaffirming the regime's commitment to their completion.Meanwhile, in villages near Sittwe, where Indian-backed projects are based, the AA has launched artillery strikes on the junta bases. In response, the military has used retaliatory drones, airstrikes, and heavy artillery. The AA has taken the majority of Rakhine State, leaving only the capital of Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and the island of Manaung under junta control. At the same time, the AA has launched offensives on junta bases along its border regions with Bago, Magway, and Ayeyarwady regions.For months, the junta has ratcheted up its use of drone warfare, especially in areas like Kachin and Rakhine states. The military has deployed more advanced drone technology earlier this year, while the resistance forces have also increased drone usage in counterattacks.In one dramatic drone strike from April, a resistance group targeted key military positions in Naypyitaw, including an air base and the military headquarters of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Myanmar military drone strike kills civilian, escalates tensions in key port town

Rising civilian casualties as military targets villages near Chinese-backed port in Kyaukphyu, Rakhine State

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