Myanmar’s junta says it has commissioned new combat jets—photos released by the military suggest four fighters, including two Russian-made Su-30s—as it escalates operations to retake territory from anti-junta forces. Opposition groups and ethnic militias accuse the military of deadly air and artillery strikes that killed dozens to more than 100 people in separate incidents, claims the junta has not confirmed. State media also reported that the military retook the town of Tagaung after a weeklong offensive, though resistance forces say they remain positioned nearby. Many casualty figures remain unverified.
Myanmar’s Junta Adds Combat Jets as Air Campaigns Intensify; State Media Says Tagaung Retaken
In this photo provided by the Myanmar Military True News Information Team, newly commissioned aircraft are seen at an airbase in Meiktila township in Mandalay region, Myanmar, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Myanmar’s ruling military government has announced the commissioning of new combat aircraft to strengthen its air capabilities, state-run media reported. Photos released by the military suggest the addition of four jet fighters, including two Russian-made Su-30s commonly used for bombing and air-combat missions.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar did not specify exact numbers or models in its statement. The report said this marks the sixth batch of aircraft commissioned by the military since it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, a move that sparked nationwide armed resistance.
In this photo provided by the Myanmar Military True News Information Team, head of the ruling military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing attends a ceremony to commission new aircraft into its air force in Meiktila township in Mandalay region, Myanmar, Thursday, March.12, 2026. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
International Backing and Sanctions
Russia and China remain significant backers and arms suppliers for Myanmar’s junta, according to observers and previous reporting. Western governments have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and included restrictions on arms transfers to the junta.
Claims of Civilian Harm and Unverified Casualty Reports
Opposition groups and ethnic armed organizations accuse the military of intensifying air and artillery strikes that have caused civilian casualties. The opposition National Unity Government (NUG) and the Karen National Union said separate operations in the lower-central Bago region from March 5–7 involved drones, jet fighters and artillery and killed an estimated 30–40 people.
In this photo provided by the Myanmar Military True News Information Team, head of the ruling military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing attends a ceremony to commission new aircraft into its air force in Meiktila township in Mandalay region, Myanmar, Thursday, March.12, 2026. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Arakan Army, an ethnic militia based in western Rakhine state, separately alleged that 116 captured soldiers — including officers held at a detention camp in Ann township — were killed after aerial attacks by military aircraft. The junta has not acknowledged these incidents, and the casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the NUG, told The Associated Press that the arrival of new aircraft appears aimed at enabling continued airstrikes on civilian areas, accusing the junta of "targeting civilians and continuing to carry out mass killings."
Territorial Gains: Tagaung
In a separate report, the Global New Light of Myanmar said the military retook the ancient town of Tagaung in northern Mandalay after a weeklong offensive. Tagaung, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of Mandalay, had reportedly been held by NUG-aligned forces since August 2024. The NUG said resistance fighters withdrew after the military used large numbers of troops and heavy weapons but that they still control positions outside the town.
Reporting Note: Several claims in this story come from parties to the conflict and state media; independent verification is limited. The situation remains fluid, and concerns persist about civilian protection amid intensified aerial operations.
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