Burning Villages: Violence Escalates as Myanmar Military Reacts to Territorial Losses

Bellingcat documents and geolocates widespread violence and airstrikes across Myanmar since late 2023, showing increased junta attacks on civilians, alleged abuses by the Arakan Army in Rakhine, and extensive destruction of towns, hospitals, homes, and religious sites, corroborated by satellite imagery and NASA FIRMS data across Rakhine, Chin, Kayah, Shan, and Sagaing; experts highlight the junta’s reliance on unguided gravity bombs, nascent drone use aided by Russia, and a likely future of military consolidation in central regions.