Myanmar Witness

Highlights

Jun 23

Sacred but not safe: Documenting airstrikes on religious and ceremonial gatherings

Places of worship are intended to provide sanctuary and peace, even during times of war. But in Myanmar, many of these historic sites are increasingly becoming scenes of devastation.

Resistance Open source

Jun 16

MAF F-7 aircraft crashes in Pale, Sagaing

A Myanmar Air Force aircraft crashed in Sa Par Sayt village in Sagaing’s Pale Township on 10 June 2025. Resistance groups claimed they shot it down, while SAC sources stated the crash was caused by an engine failure. Myanmar Witness examined the footage and claims surrounding the incident.

Airstrike MAF

Apr 28

Airstrikes continued to hit earthquake-stricken Myanmar despite SAC ceasefire

One month on from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, open source analysis conducted by Myanmar Witness reveals how the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) continued to conduct airstrikes in the earthquake’s aftermath, despite the State Administration Council (SAC) calling a temporary ceasefire and national mourning period.

Environment

Mar 18

Uncovered: The devastating impact of Myanmar’s rare earth mining boom

Satellite image analysis reveals how a rapid expansion of mining sites in the country’s northeast has altered the region’s physical landscape. The impacts are devastating – for both the environment and local communities.

Latest Reports

Religion Airstrike

Jun 23

Sacred but not safe: Documenting airstrikes on religious and ceremonial gatherings

Places of worship are intended to provide sanctuary and peace, even during times of war. But in Myanmar, many of these historic sites are increasingly becoming scenes of devastation.

Resistance Open source

Jun 16

MAF F-7 aircraft crashes in Pale, Sagaing

A Myanmar Air Force aircraft crashed in Sa Par Sayt village in Sagaing’s Pale Township on 10 June 2025. Resistance groups claimed they shot it down, while SAC sources stated the crash was caused by an engine failure. Myanmar Witness examined the footage and claims surrounding the incident.

Airstrike

May 28

Necessary and proportionate? Potential ‘unprovoked’ airstrikes in January 2025

This report investigates claims of Myanmar military airstrikes on villages to assess whether they were isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern. While the State Administration Council (SAC) maintains these strikes are necessary, targeted responses to threats, Myanmar Witness found that in many cases, strikes destroyed or severely damaged villages and infrastructure in areas where civilians, including children, were reportedly present. This contradicts the SAC’s assertion that only insurgents are targeted and suggests that even so-called isolated strikes may reflect a broader, more indiscriminate use of force.

Education Airstrike

May 16

Conflicting claims: An analysis of the Tabayin school airstrike

Reports described how dozens - mainly children - had been killed in an airstrike that hit a school in Sagaing’s Tabayin township, claims that were dismissed as 'fake news' by SAC-aligned sources. Myanmar Witness pieced together UGC and satellite imagery to show what really happened.

Maps

Find out More

Myanmar Witness has created a number of maps in order to help researchers, journalists and CSOs explore evidence related to human rights incidents in Myanmar and see patterns and trends that have emerged since the coup.