The Myanmar military junta has conducted around 30 airstrikes across Shan, Karenni, and Kachin states over the past month, dropping nearly 100 bombs and killing over 20 people, according to information received by SHAN.

Between late December 2024 and January 30, 2025, these airstrikes primarily targeted civilian areas, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. Among the most devastating incidents were two bombings on January 22 and 25 in Nawnghkio Township, Shan State, where bombs struck a tea shop, claiming at least eight lives. Eyewitnesses reported that these attacks occurred in densely populated areas with no active clashes, resulting in significant civilian casualties.

Ko Ye Myo Hein, a military analyst and visiting scholar at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), as quoted by Burma News International (BNI), said “The military’s airstrikes predominantly target civilians and non-military zones, further deepening public resentment. This approach makes it increasingly unlikely for the junta to gain any strategic advantage or reclaim lost territory,”.

Data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reveals that military artillery and airstrikes in Shan State alone have claimed the lives of 154 civilians, including 22 children, between January 1, 2024, and January 29, 2025.

A separate report by BNI highlights the staggering impact of the junta’s military aggression since the coup nearly four years ago, recording 1,767 airstrikes in total. Alarmingly, 47 percent of these have targeted civilian areas, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in conflict-affected regions.