The escalating conflict in Myanmar throughout 2025 and early 2026 marks a shift toward low-cost aerial terror against civilian infrastructure. Through silent paramotor gliders and domestically produced cluster munitions, the military has targeted schools, festivals, and hospitals. Fueled by illicit petroleum imports, these devastating strikes serve as a tool of state terror and election-period voter intimidation.

In 2026, the international effort to isolate Myanmar’s military regime shifted into a high-stakes war of attrition. A coalition of the US, Canada, and the EU synchronized sanctions targeting foreign currency and aviation fuel. Meanwhile, the junta relies on shadow fleets, regional bridge banks, and non-aligned networks to maintain its critical lifelines.