2021–2022 Myanmar insurgency
On 5 May 2021, an armed revolution led by the People's Defence Force (PDF) of the National Unity Government (called the People's Defensive War by the PDF) erupted throughout Myanmar in response to the military government's crackdown on anti-coup protests. The conflict has been described as a civil war by the UN Human Rights chief rather than an insurgency. According to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 1,803 civilians have been killed by the junta, as of 24 April 2022. ACLED estimated that in 2021, an estimated 11,000 people had been killed in the  violence following the 2021 coup. Background. On the morning of 1 February 2021, the Tatmadaw successfully deposed the elected Myanmar government, forming a military junta. Former president Win Myint, Aung San Suu Kyi, and several other members of the National League for Democracy were detained on early morning raids and Min Aung Hlaing was placed as the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and de facto ruler of the nation. The exact motives behind the coup are unclear, the Tatmadaw claims the 2020 general elections had 8.6 million voter irregularities in the days prior to the coup but presented no  evidence. It's believed the coup might have been a way to re-establish the military's long-reigning power over of the country which ended ten years prior. The bloody repression of anti-coup demonstrations led to the creation of armed groups to fight the State Administration Council, the military junta birmanese. Gathered under the name of the People's Defence Force (PDF) and under the orders of the National Unity Government (NUG), formed by former parliamentarians in office before the coup d'état, the PDF and the NUG officially declare a "defensive war" against the military regime in September  2021. Timeline. 2021. March. In late March, it was reported that dozens of protesters had travelled to Myanmar's border areas to enlist in and train under one of the country's many insurgent groups, elevating the risk of a countrywide civil war. The CRPH also proposed the formation of a "federal armed force" to combat the military. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has already been on the offensive against the military since February, and in late March the Arakan Army (AA) threatened to end its ceasefire with the military should the latter "persist in massacring civilians". Also since late  March, protesters in Myanmar have increasingly begun arming themselves with homemade weapons such as guns in an attempt to defend themselves against attacks by the military. Clashes with soldiers and IED attacks against administrative buildings and police stations have become more common as armed resistance to the Tatmadaw by protesters has become a rising trend. On 25 March, the KIA seized the military base of Alaw Bum near Laiza. On 11 April, the junta military launched an attack to recapture the base using airstrikes and ground troops but had to retreat amidst heavy casualties. On 26 March, the Karen National  Liberation Army (KNLA) attacked a military base, killing 10 soldiers and taking others hostages in the first attack on the military since the protests began. The first day of openly armed resistance against the coup came on 28 March when protesters in the town of Kalay when armed protesters fought back against soldiers and security forces attacking a protest camp, with clashes also taking place in villages in Kale township. April. The town of Taze became another frequent site of clashes, such as on 8 April when protesters fought back against soldiers with hunting rifles and firebombs in a battle  that resulted in 11 protesters' deaths. The same day, the country surpassed 600 deaths related to anti-coup protests since 1 February. On 4 April, seven insurgent groups who were signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement aligned themselves with the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, including the All Burma Student Democratic Front and the Karen National Union. On 10 April, when the Northern Alliance, comprising the Arakan Army, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, attacked a police station in Naungmon, Shan State, killing at least 10 police officers. On 16 April, pro-democracy politician Min  Ko Naing announced the formation of the National Unity Government, with people of ethnic minority groups among senior roles and said that ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint would retain their positions and that members of the Kachin and Karen minorities would have top priority in the new parallel government. In the same announcement, Min Ko Naing asked the international community for recognition over the junta. The Battle of Mindat. On 26 April, the Chinland Defense Force began an armed resistance in Mindat, Chin State, making the junta cut off food and water supplies and declaring a  martial law. Fighting began when a group of demonstrators outside the town's Aung San statue requested the release of six of their arrested colleagues, a member of the regime's troops allegedly fired at someone, prompting protesters to react. According to an aid worker, more than 10,000 people have left Mindat in southern Chin State as the Myanmar military started an all-out operation to quell an armed revolt headed by local citizens. In the end, the battle lasted four days, killing 30 junta soldiers with no casualties for the CDF, and Mindat has been a ghost town since  then. May. Six Tatmadaw soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Chinland Defense Force in Hakha, Chin State, on 16 May. On the same day, the Tatmadaw launched airstrikes in Kayin State in response to the Karen National Liberation Army's capture and scorching of a Tatmadaw military base. On 5 May, the National Unity Government declared the formation of an armed wing, the People's Defence Force (PDF) to protect its supporters from military junta attacks and as a first step towards a Federal Union Army. The People's Defence Force clashed with the Tatmadaw in the town  of Muse on 23 May, killing at least 13 members of Myanmar's security forces. Members of the Karenni People's Defence Force (KPDF) in Kayah State also captured and destroyed several Tatmadaw outposts near the state capital of Loikaw. On 29 and 30 May 2021, the Tatmadaw used artillery and helicopters to strike PDF and KPDF positions in Loikaw and Demoso. On 30 May, the Kachin Independence Army joined the anti-coup People's Defence Force battling junta troops in Katha Township, killing eight regime soldiers. Fighting was also continuing in Putao, Hpakant and Momauk Township. June. From 1  to 3 June, fighting erupted in Myawaddy District in which the military and Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) battling against a combined force of Karen ethnic armed groups and PDF had left dozens of junta troops killed. On 22 June, junta forces using armoured vehicles raided a safehouse of the PDF in Mandalay, detaining a number of fighters. July. On 2 July, media reported that Myanmar security forces have killed at least 25 people in a confrontation with opponents of the military junta in the central town of Tabayin. August. On 20 August 50 junta soldiers were reportedly killed in  a series of landmine attacks by resistance fighters in Gangaw Township. September. On 7 September, the NUG declared a state emergency across the nation and launched a people's defensive war against the military junta. On 10 September, at least 17 people have been killed during clashes between the military and resistance militia in Myin Thar village, Magway region. On 14 September, the National Unity Government claimed that over 1700 junta soldiers had been killed and 630 wounded in fighting during the previous three months. On 21 September, over 40 junta soldiers were reported killed during firefights in Kayah State  and the Sagaing Region on 19 September. At least 6 civilian fighters were also killed in the clashes. On 22 September, nearly 8,000 residents of Thantlang town, Chin state, have fled to Mizoram, India after houses were set ablaze by the junta army. On 27 September, over 30 junta soldiers and at least 14 civilian resistance fighters were reported killed in clashes over the previous weekend in several townships in Sagaing Region and Chin and Kayah States. On 28 September, at least 20 junta soldiers were reported killed in ambushes in Shan state. At least 4 resistance fighters died in  the clashes, as well as an unarmed 70 year old civilian. October. On 6 October, over 40 junta soldiers were killed in ambushes in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region. On 7 October, junta controlled media reported at least 406 junta informants had been killed and 285 wounded since 1 February in targeted attacks by resistance forces. On the same day, Brigadier-General Phyo Thant, a senior commander of the North-western junta forces was reportely detained after allegedly contacting resistance forces with the intention to defect, making him the highest-ranking official to have attempted to defect so far. On 11  October, around 90 junta soldiers were reported killed in clashes in the Sagaing and Magwe regions, and Kayah State in fighting over the previous weekend. November. On 16 November, junta forces overran and captured the base camp of Kalay PDF in a southwestern district of the Sagaing Region town of Kalay. A total of 9 Kalay PDF medics were captured and 2 PDF fighters were killed, in which the PDF personnel were from the Kalay PDF's Battalion 3. On 17 November, dozens of junta forces ambushed and captured an outpost of the Moebye People's Defence Force (PDF) in  southern Shan State's Pekhon Township. The PDF fighters guarding the outpost were asleep when a military unit from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 422 carried out an ambush. The junta forces had the resistance fighters surrounded resulting in the resistance fighters having to retreat from the outpost. On 23 November, some 30 junta soldiers in 10 military vehicles along with a bulldozer, ambushed and destroyed a base belonging to Monywa PDF's Squadron 205 near Palin village in Monywa, Sagaing Region, forcing resistance fighters to flee. The base was also the site of a workshop where the PDF had made  explosive devices. During the raid, junta troops set fire to two such buildings where weapons had been stockpiled. This also resulted in the junta forces successfully reoccurring the Palin village. On 25 November, junta forces ambushed and killed 4 resistance fighters from Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF) near the village of Hohpeik in Kayah State's Demoso Township. The 4 resistance fighters were part of a scouting team of 6 men that was ambushed by troops from Light Infantry Battalion 427 at around 5:30am. Furthermore, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) clashed with around 100 junta soldiers near Kachinthay, a village  about 16 km east of the town of Shwegu. KIA refused to address rumours of them working with People's Defence Force and did not provide casualty figures of KIA from the clash. The clash occurred after an aerial bombardment allegedly carried out by 2 of the recently acquired Su-30 fighter jets that the Myanmar military have been testing. On the same day, Matupi CDF teamed up with the Chin National Army to attack an outpost of Light Infantry Battalion 304 on the road linking Matupi to the town of Paletwa. However, the resistance forces only managed to kill 2  junta soldiers on guard duty before having to retreat. On 26 November, resistance fighters from the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) attacked a government office where 10 soldiers were stationed near the Chin State town of Matupi, killing just 2 junta soldiers. On 28 November, the body of a dead PDF fighter who was previously captured by junta forces was found outside of a destroyed PDF base in the forested hills of the southeastern area of Madaya Township. The PDF fighter, Ye Thu Naing, was captured on 19 November and then forced to lead soldiers to the PDF base in which  the soldiers then torched the base. December. On 1 December, a little under a week after the junta launched airstrikes against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Mohnyin, about 50 soldiers from Tatmadaw's Infantry Battalion 42 attacked KIA territory near Nyaung Htauk village in Mohnyin at around 8am and ended at about 6pm. KIA's information officer did not want to disclose the details of casualties on their side. There was also another clash on the same day near Wailon village, which sits along the road linking Hpakant with Mohnyin, about 17 miles from Hpakant's urban  centre in which the junta's artillery unit fired around 30 shells at the site of the clash between 3pm and 8pm in order to support the advance of the infantry unit. The junta forces also carried out a night operation in which they captured and burned a camp of the Thein Min PDF (TM-PDF) after a heavy firefight. The resistance fighters were then forced to retreat, resulting in 2 TM-PDF fighters killed and several others injured. On 7 December 10 December Salingyi G-Z Local People's Defence Force (PDF) fighters were captured and burned  by junta soldiers in Done Taw in Salingyi Township, shortly before locals found the smoldering remains of their burnt bodies. This was after the PDF fighters detonated explosives in an attack against a military convoy travelling nearby, triggering an assault on the village by some 100 junta soldiers. An additional person burned was a civilian and the reason is unknown as to why he was burned. On 8 December, a 90-minute clash broke out between the CDF and Tatmadaw forces in military-occupied town of Thantlang. This was after Tatmadaw launched a major offensive again CDF that lead to  the Tatmadaw forces being able to reoccupy the town from the CDF. 3 CDF fighters were reported to have died during the clash. More houses burned in military-occupied Thantlang this week, with well over a quarter of the Chin State town's buildings now destroyed in 12 incidents, which makes it difficult for CDF rebels to hide in the buildings. On 9 December, resistance fighters from the Myaing People's Defence Force (PDF) in Magway Region attacked two military vehicles with 3 handmade explosives in an ambush in the early morning. PDF claimed the ambush injured at least 3  soldiers. Later at noon, PDF attacked soldiers again who were leaving the village in Mintharkya on foot, sparking a shootout between the two sides. However, there are no casualty reports on this particular clash. On 12 December, after 4 days of fierce fighting between combined force of KNDF and Karenni Army (KA) fighters, and troops from the military's Light Infantry Battalion 428 and police, it was claimed by KNDF that 4 Tatmadaw soldiers were killed however, it was a pure guess as the KNDF spokesperson said, "We're not sure if they died, but it's safe to assume  that at least three or four of their soldiers were severely injured". The Tatmadaw forces also killed 4 PDF-appointed community guards and 3 PDF fighters as well as injuring 3 PDF fighters in the village of Guang Kwe in the Sagaing region during two days of fighting. The resistance fighters then had to retreat from the village after military employed heavy weapons and snipers. On the same day, Tatmadaw troops killed 8 Mandalay civilian guerrilla groups when two resistance hideouts were raided. This came after the confession by a suspect involved in an attack against Tatmadaw troops, in which  the Tatmadaw troops then raided the People's Defense Forces (PDF) in Maha Aung Myay and Pyigyitagon townships. Fighting occurred at the Maha Aung Myay base and seven PDF members were killed and a junta soldier suffered a minor bullet wound in his belly while another PDF fighter was killed in Pyigyitagon base after throwing a homemade bomb at junta forces and running away. On 13 December, Tatmadaw troops launched an offensive against PDF fighters as well as another another local resistance group calling itself Zayar 7 in Ke Bar village in Sagaing Region's Ayadaw Township which is assisted  by artillery bombardment. The resistance fighters had to retreat due to the superior firepower of the assaulting Tatmadaw troops. In addition, Tatmadaw soldiers captured 12 suspected resistance fighters including 3 injured fighters due to after several bombs exploded by accident in Yangon's Hlaing Tharyar Township. 2 additional resistance fighters who escaped were also captured later on by plain clothed and armed Tatmadaw troops who were wearing bulletproof vests. There have been several other cases of guerrilla fighters across Myanmar dying in accidents caused by handmade explosives. Depayin PDF leader reported that Tatmadaw forces have surrounded the Sagaing's Depayin  Township where PDF fighters are positioned. Depayin PDF leader also told Myanmar NOW, "Things are really bad here. They're not even stopping anymore. They keep sending column after column to the region. Right after a column has passed the village, another column will come". Since last month the military has sent around 150 soldiers of the Airborne Division in six helicopters to the west of Depayin to carry out Air Assault missions. 14 December, around 200 Tatmadaw soldiers conducted a search in the town of Lay Kay Kaw Myothit, located near the Thai border which is under the control  of KNU Brigade 6. Tatmadaw troops then arrested several people believed to be linked to anti-junta movements including a NLD lawmaker, Wai Lin Aung. The Tatmadaw troops, who arrived in four convoys from Light Infantry Battalion 560, also searched Lay Kay Kaw's residential Nyein Chan Yay ward looking for activists and members of the People's Defence Force. KNU Brigade 6 spokesperson did not answer to calls which are to ask if the group had authorised the raid. On 17 December 20 resistance fighters from Yaw Defence Force were killed after the Tatmadaw launched a surprise air assault  on the village of Hnan Khar in Magway Region's Gangaw Township where YDF was holding a meeting. Three helicopters were involved in the air assault on the village. Hnan Khar is currently occupied by around 150 junta soldiers and members of the military-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia, said one resident of the village. Furthermore, a member of a local armed resistance group was shot dead and three others were captured during a military raid in Yangon Region's Thanlyin Township. The raid, which targeted a house located near the village of Laharyet, was carried out at around 9 am. A 30-year-old member of the group died after being shot in the chest and thigh and two men and one woman were captured. The body of the dead resistance fighter, who was identified on a Thanlyin-based Facebook page as Phyo Maung Maung Oo, was taken away by the soldiers. On 20 December, Tatmadaw forces left the village of Kunnar in Kayah (Karenni) State's Loikaw Township after capturing it from Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) late last week. According to the KNDF member, there were around 130 troops stationed in Kunnar over the weekend. He added  that there had been no new clashes since fighting broke out twice last week, on Monday and Thursday. Christmas Eve massacre. On 24 December, more than 35 people were massacred when their convoy were ambushed by junta troops near Mo So village of Hpruso town, Kayah State. Two workers for non-profit group Save the Children remained missing after the attack. The United Nations have called for a 'thorough and transparent investigation' into the incident. 2022. January. On 31 January, at least three dozen junta soldiers were reported killed in ambushes over three days in Magwe, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions  and Chin, Shan and Kayah states. February. On 1 February, it was reported at least 30 junta soldiers and allied militiamen from the Pyu Saw Htee militia had been killed by joint PDF attacks in Kani Township, Sagaing Region. Flotillas transporting supplies and soldiers by the junta were ambushed, with at least one flotilla set on fire during the attacks. On 2 February 2 people were killed and 38 injured in a grenade attack following a pro junta rally. According to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, 367 junta-appointed officials have been assassinated in targeted attacks since 2021's 1  February coup. On 7 February, it was reported that 38 junta soldiers had been killed in surprise attacks by local PDFs in the Sagaing Region. These attacks also included the use of drones. The Kachin Independence Army also claimed that around 200 junta soldiers, including a battalion commander, had been killed in three days of clashes in the Hpakant Township, Kachin State. On 8 February, it was reported that the Arakan Army and junta forces had clashed on at least two occasions in Maungdaw in Rakhine State. Fighting broke out on 4 February when junta troops carried out a sneak  attack on an AA outpost near the Letpan Mountains northeast of Mee Taik Village, killing an AA sentry, according to AA spokesman Khaing Thukha. Three hours of clashes were also reported on 6 February. The clashes have raised fears of a breakdown of the informal ceasefire between the AA and the military which has been in place since November 2020. Two civilians were also reported killed in further clashes in northern Maungdaw on the night of 7 February. On 9 February, it was reported that 35 junta soldiers had been killed in attacks by local PDFs in the Sagaing and  Bago regions the previous day. Resistance forces also began targeting the homes of junta pilots in Yangon in response to airstrikes on civilians. On 10 February, around 50 Myanmar junta personnel were reportedly killed during raids and ambushes by people's defense forces in three townships in Sagaing Region on 9 February. On 11 February, several junta troops, including a Major, were reported killed in an attack by the Arakan Army in Maungdaw, Rakhine State, on 8 February. 38 junta soldiers and 5 resistance fighters were also reported killed in clashes in Sagaing Region and Kayah State on 10 and  11 February. On 14 February, it was reported 40 junta troops had been killed in attacks by PDF forces on 12 and 13 February. The clashes occurred in the Naypyitaw, Magwe, Sagaing, Mandalay and Yangon regions. On 18 February, around 20 junta soldiers and 20 resistance fighters were reportedly killed in clashes in Mobye town, southern Shan State. 12 resistance fighters were also reported killed in clashes in the Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, on 17 February, while military casualties from those clashes were not reported. March. On 7 March, around 85 junta soldiers were reportedly killed during two clashes  with local PDFs and Karenni forces in Demoso Township, Kayah State, during the previous weekend, with at least two junta soldiers captured. On the evening of 21 March, Brigade 6 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) stormed and occupied a Tatmadaw camp in the village of Maw Khi in Wallay Myaing subtownship, Myawaddy District, Kayin State. The Maw Khi camp is located about 50 miles south of Myawaddy, about three miles from the Burmese-Thai border. Eight Tatmadaw soldiers were killed according to Khit Thit Media. 8 junta soldiers were reported killed in mine attacks by local resistance forces  in the Magwe region on March 21. On 28 March, Min Aung Hlaing vowed to "annihilate" opposition forces. On 30 March, around 20 junta soldiers were reported killed in ambushes targeting junta convoys in Mindat township, Chin state. April. Fighting broke out in parts of Loikaw City on April 14. Recent combat in Kayin state resulted in a marked increase in refugees on the Thai border. On April 15, junta soldiers suffered at least 30 casualties after being pushed back by the KNLA at the battle for Lay Kay Kaw. On April 19, 30 junta soldiers were reported killed in  two ambushes by local resistance forces in Pale Township, Sagaing Region. On April 21, two junta officers and 24 men working for the military council's electricity department were arrested by KNDF forces in southern Shan State’s Pekhon Township. On the same day, a local defence force based in Tanintharyi Region’s Kawthaung District claimed that they managed to kill three Myanmar army soldiers, confiscate weapons and occupy a police station in the area.