Myanmar Junta Launches Air and Naval Strikes in Rakhine State

International Desk

Myanmar’s military junta government launched heavy airstrikes and shelling on 18 August 2025 in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) rebel group in Rakhine State. The attacks are part of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, in which the Arakan Army controls much of Rakhine State, and junta forces have stepped up their offensive in an attempt to retake these areas. The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and widespread damage, raising concerns among the international community.

On 18 August 2025, junta forces in Rakhine State shelled villages controlled by the Arakan Army from a naval fleet deployed in the Bay of Bengal. An X-post said, “The junta forces are shelling villages occupied by the Arakan Army, resulting in casualties among the rebels as well as civilians.” The attacks are alleged to have targeted civilian areas, spreading panic among the people of Rakhine.

Myanmar’s military junta has been carrying out intense airstrikes on rebel groups in the border areas in recent days. These attacks are mainly concentrated in the Shan, Sagaing, Rakhine, and Mandalay regions, where the rebels control significant areas.

Below is a description of the recent attacks:

Attacks in Shan State (15–19 August 2025): Junta forces have launched intense airstrikes on areas controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Hispaw and Naungkhyo towns in Shan State. The TNLA said the junta used Y-12 aircraft to drop more than 50 bombs on Hispaw and are carrying out daily attacks on Naungkhyo. “They are dropping bombs even in areas where there is no fighting. They have been shelling with heavy weapons from Pyin U Lwin for four or five days,” a resident of Naungkhyo told Radio Free Asia.

Attack in Mandalay Region (15 August 2025): On the night of 15 August, junta forces bombed the eastern part of Mogok town in Mandalay Region with fighter jets. According to information published on social media, the attack caused significant damage to civilian areas.

Attacks in Rakhine State (18 August 2025): Junta forces are shelling villages controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State from naval vessels deployed in the Bay of Bengal. An X-post said, “Junta forces are shelling villages occupied by the Arakan Army, resulting in casualties among the insurgents as well as civilians.”

The attacks reflect the growing weakness of the junta government. In October 2023, rebel groups launched Operation 1027, which captured key towns and military bases in Shan State, including Lashio, Hispaw, and Naungkhyo. Junta forces have been retaliating with airstrikes on civilian areas after failing to retake these areas.

The United Nations and Amnesty International have called for the attacks to be investigated as war crimes. China, which supplies arms to the junta, has recently initiated border peace talks, but the Three Brotherhood Alliance has refused to participate.

The junta’s recent airstrikes are increasing civilian casualties rather than suppressing the insurgency, further complicating Myanmar’s civil war. This situation has made the country’s human rights situation even more dire.