Armed conflict events across Myanmar declined during the two-week period from 12 to 25 February 2026 relative to the preceding reporting period. Despite this overall reduction, drone strikes by the military junta continued unabated, and civilian fatalities rose markedly.
Notably, a total of 15 drone strike events were recorded – a higher number than in previous weeks. Of these, 13 were carried out by junta forces, resulting in eight civilians killed and 15 others wounded.
On 15 February 2026, at around 6:00 p.m., the junta launched a suicide drone strike against Wa Hmyaung Village in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, killing a two-year-old child and one woman and injuring three men. 1
On 19 February 2026, suicide drones were used to strike Ywar Sin Village in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region. The attack killed a 50-year-old man and his 16-year-old daughter and injured three children aged 12. The suicide drones were reported to have been launched by the Shwebo Training Corps No. (8). 2
On 20 February 2026, following a drone attack on a passenger aircraft within the Myitkyina Airport compound in Kachin State – which the junta attributed to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local People’s Defence Forces (PDF) – the junta launched retaliatory drone strikes in the vicinity of Laiza, the KIA headquarters. Simultaneously, the junta conducted airstrikes across Hpakant, Waingmaw, Momauk, Mohnyin, and Tanai townships, areas where KIA brigades are active. 3
Between 1 January 2026 and 25 February 2026, BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor recorded a total of 55 drone strike events across Myanmar. Of these, 72% (40 events) were carried out by the junta. Of those 40 events, 65 percent (26 events) targeted civilian populations, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, hospitals, and schools, resulting in 11 civilians killed and 24 others wounded.
Analysis shows that unarmed civilians were the primary targets of the junta drone strikes, while the Arakan Army (AA), Karen National Union (KNU), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and People’s Defence Forces/Local Defense Forces (PDF/LDF) constituted the secondary targets. In some instances, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) – which maintains ties with the Border Guard Forces (BGF) under the military – was also mistakenly struck by junta drone attacks.
A regional breakdown of junta drone strikes shows that Bago Region recorded the highest number of such strikes, followed by Tanintharyi Region, Karen State, and Karenni State. Drone strikes by the junta were also recorded in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Kachin State, Shan State (South), Mon State, Mandalay Region, and Chin State.
Of all drone strike events recorded as of 25 February 2026, 40 were carried out by the junta, 12 by the PDFs, one by the junta-affiliated Pa-O National Organization (PNO) and two remained unattributed. The junta drone strikes account for the largest share.
Since the 2021 military coup, the military junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has escalated its use of aerial bombardment — including paramotors, gyrocopters, and suicide drones — against both resistance forces and civilian populations.
The junta’s drone strikes against the people of Myanmar have reached a level that warrants close monitoring.
1.Three killed including child, 3 wounded in junta strike in Kyaukphyu, DVB, 16 Feb 2026
2. Father and son among 2 killed, at least 7 injured in junta airstrike in Khin-U and Myaung, People’s Spring, 21 Feb 2026
3. Laiza and KIA-controlled areas hit by repeated junta airstrikes, Irrawaddy, 23 Feb 2026