Myanmar fighters target military in drone attacks on capital, anti-junta
groups say
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[April 04, 2024]
(Reuters) -Opponents of army rule in Myanmar said on
Thursday they carried out drone attacks on two military targets in its
capital Naypyitaw, attacks which, if confirmed, would be a major blow to
the image of a junta struggling to govern.
Reuters could not independently confirm the information and the military
government could not immediately be reached. State-controlled and
military-run media outlets carried no news of the reported incident.
The National Unity Government (NUG), an alliance of anti-junta groups
formed to challenge military rule in the wake of a 2021 coup, announced
coordinated drone attacks on two military installations, but provided no
details on the drones or weapons used, or whether the targets sustained
any damage.
"The synchronized drone operations were simultaneously executed against
Naypyitaw, targeting both the headquarters of the terrorist military and
Alar Air Base," the NUG said in a statement.
"Preliminary reports suggest there were casualties."
If confirmed, the incident could dent the credibility of a well-equipped
military that regards itself as the sole protector of Myanmar's
sovereignty, as it faces its biggest test since first taking control of
the former British colony in 1962.
Naypyitaw is the seat of power for the military government and home to
much of its defence hardware, built in a remote area of central Myanmar
about two decades ago by the previous junta that had ruled for more than
two decades.
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FIERCE REBELLION
The junta has been fighting on multiple fronts to try to contain
uprisings around the country and stabilise an economy that has wilted
since the coup.
Myanmar is locked in a civil war between the military on one side and,
on the other, a loose alliance of ethnic minority rebels and an armed
movement which emerged in response to the junta's bloody crackdown on
anti-coup protests.
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The military has been accused by Western governments of systematic
atrocities, and excessive use of air strikes and artillery in
civilian areas. It has dismissed that as misinformation and says it
is targeting "terrorists".
A spokesperson for the NUG's armed affiliate in Naypyitaw, the
People's Defence Force (PDF) said it carried out Thursday's attack
under the instruction of the NUG's defence ministry. It did not
provide details of the incident.
Two unofficial, pro-military media outlets, however, said drones
were successfully shot down, with no casualties.
NP news, citing an unnamed official, said the drones failed to reach
the base but an explosion had occurred, causing some damage at the
corner of a runway. A pro-military Telegram channel said seven
drones were shot down, without citing sources.
The NUG's defence ministry could not be reached.
Myanmar's ruling general Min Aung Hlaing said in a national address
last week that the military was holding power only temporarily and
called for unity among the people and military to fight armed
groups, which he said had foreign backing and were seeking to
destroy the country.
Its military-installed president last year said the country was at
risk of breaking apart due to the rebellion.
News outlet Mizzima said, without providing a source, that 16 drones
were used to attack the military base and 13 were used in an attack
on the air force base.
News website the Irrawaddy quoted a spokesperson for the group
credited with operating the drones as saying the junta leader's
Naypyitaw residence was also a target, adding "we have plans to do
more attacks".
Reuters could not verify the reports.
(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by
Kanupriya Kapoor and Philippa Fletcher)
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