∎ SPOTLIGHTS
The “Spotlights” section aims to provide a succinct overview of recent noteworthy developments. Among various topics, two compelling issues will be discussed.
SAC’s Raining Bombs
The State Administration Council’s (SAC) troops have been relentlessly executing intense aerial assaults after losing control of a regional military command (RMC) and several major towns. These airstrikes intensified after Operation 1027 restarted in late June 2024, spreading the conflict into central Myanmar. The resistance forces have successfully captured towns like Mogoke, Thabeikkyin, and Singu in the Mandalay Region, increasingly threatening Mandalay itself. In response to the operation’s sequel, the SAC officially declared Myanmar National Democratic Alliance (MNDAA),Ta’ang National Liberation Army ( TNLA), and Arakan Army (AA) as terrorist organizations on September 2. Since then, SAC propaganda has consistently emphasized that innocent civilians must not be forced into human shields, and the SAC troops will protect and maintain the sovereignty at all costs, responding as necessary. The primary response has involved even more severe and frequent aerial bombings aimed at instilling fear in the opposition and reinforcing the belief that nothing else matters than reclaiming the land.
The SAC escalated its aerial offensives across Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine, Karen States, and the Sagaing Region in early September. ISP-Myanmar’s data indicates that over 3,000 airstrikes were conducted during the first phase of Operation 1027, the six months from November 2023 to April 2024. This averages over 500 strikes per month. When comparing this to the previous three months of the second phase of Operation 1027, there were 71 strikes in July, 229 in August and 152 in September respectively, indicating a decrease in frequency. Yet, the number of civilian casualties has been high. On September 5 and 6 alone, two attacks targeting the two towns, Namhkan in the Chinese border and Pekon in the Karenni area, respectively, involved schools and camps for internally displaced persons, resulting in the deaths of around 21 children and civilians. Additionally, an assault on a detention camp in Buthidaung, Rakhine State, held by the AA, resulted in over 50 casualties, including SAC troops. These intense attacks not only suggest an escalation in violence but also foreshadow potential retaliations in response.
Spotlights