Myanmar Military Intensifies Airstrikes on Civilian Areas During ASEAN Talks

Myanmar's military has conducted a fresh wave of airstrikes against civilian-populated areas, according to reports from residents and local monitors, coinciding with a high-level visit by an ASEAN special envoy seeking to broker dialogue on the country's deepening political crisis.

The aerial operations have affected multiple regions across Myanmar, with witnesses reporting strikes on residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. The timing of the intensified campaign, occurring as regional diplomatic efforts gain momentum, highlights the military's continued use of overwhelming force against areas outside its control.

ASEAN's engagement with Myanmar has focused on encouraging dialogue and de-escalation following the military's takeover in February 2021. However, military leadership has shown little willingness to curtail operations or engage meaningfully with opposition forces, even during international mediation attempts.

The airstrikes represent part of a broader pattern of violence that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands more since the coup. Military operations have particularly targeted areas controlled by resistance forces and ethnic armed organizations that oppose the regime.

The envoy's visit underscores ASEAN's struggle to influence developments in Myanmar, where the military has dismissed calls for restraint and political settlement. Regional governments have expressed concern that ongoing violence threatens broader stability in Southeast Asia.