At least six civilians were killed and more than 26 others—including children and Buddhist monks—were injured over the weekend as the Myanmar Air Force conducted a wave of airstrikes and drone attacks targeting liberated zones across Arakan State, Mandalay Region, and Sagaing Region.
The aerial bombardment destroyed over 25 residential homes and a local church, according to residents. The strikes triggered a swift warning from the Arakan Army (AA), which vowed to retaliate against every attack launched on territory under its administration.
Rakhine frontline: Strikes hit AA-controlled territory
The airstrikes heavily targeted three townships in Arakan State: Taungup, Thandwe, and Ponnagyun, located between 20-284 miles (32-457 km) northeast and south of the state capital, Sittwe.
All three townships were captured by the AA during its sweeping offensive between March and November 2024. The AA currently exercises administrative control over 14 out of Arakan’s 17 townships, alongside Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.
A Thandwe resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that everyone is hiding inside their homes because they don’t know when the next fighter jet is coming.
In an official statement issued on July 19, the AA strongly condemned the regime’s continued targeting of civilian areas and declared that its forces would “respond” to every military assault on AA-controlled territory.
Mandalay and Sagaing: Drone strikes and aerial bombardments
The military’s weekend air campaign extended deep into central Myanmar’s dry zone, utilizing a mix of fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs):
- Mahlaing Township (Mandalay Region): Located 75 miles (120 km) south of Mandalay city, the township was hit by a series of drone strikes July 18-19. A 70-year-old man was killed in the attack. Local residents reported that the military completely cut off all telecommunication and internet services prior to launching the strikes.
- Myaung and Chaung-U townships (Sagaing Region): Situated 16-36 miles (25-58 km) south of Monywa, two villages were bombarded on July 19 by four fighter jets that dropped more than 60 bombs. While no casualties were reported, the heavy ordnance caused widespread structural damage.
A deadly paradox: Dialogue offers amid escalating airstrikes
The escalation comes amid a stark contradiction in the regime’s public diplomacy. On April 20—10 days after being inaugurated as president by a pro-military parliament—regime leader Min Aung Hlaing launched a “100-day plan” that included an invitation to all Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), the People’s Defence Force (PDF), and the National Unity Government (NUG) to engage in peace talks in Naypyidaw before a July 31 deadline.
The offer has been widely dismissed by resistance forces as disingenuous, particularly given that the regime officially designated both the NUG and PDF as “terrorist organizations” in May 2021.
Data compiled by DVB indicates that far from de-escalating, the regime has intensified its air war since the dialogue invitation was announced:
Casualty Toll Since Min Aung Hlaing's "Peace Offer" (April 20 – July 19, 2026)
├── Verified Civilian Deaths from Airstrikes: 274
└── Verified Civilian Injuries from Airstrikes: 579
With the regime’s July 31 deadline approaching, resistance forces maintain that Naypyidaw’s call for dialogue is a tactical cover for its escalating air campaign against civilian populations across the country.
