UN Investigators Report Myanmar Military Increased Airstrikes on Civilians Ahead of 2025-26 Elections; Regime Denies Forced Conscription of Women

What happened

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported on August 11 that Myanmar’s military intensified aerial attacks against civilians in the months leading up to the regime’s 2025-26 elections held between December 28, 2025, and January 25, 2026. The IIMM’s investigations found a rise in the frequency and severity of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both the military and various armed groups during this period, including serious abuses such as sexual violence and torture.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The elections, widely criticised by Western governments and rights organizations as neither free nor fair, resulted in the pro-military parliament electing Min Aung Hlaing as president in April 2026. The IIMM has been documenting abuses in Myanmar since 2011, including the 2017 military crimes against the Rohingya and those occurring since the coup in February 2021. This escalation of airstrikes further endangers civilians amid ongoing conflict.

In a separate development, regime spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe publicly denied reports that women aged 18 to 27 are being forcibly conscripted under the People’s Military Service Law, which came into force in 2024 mandating military service for males aged 18 to 35. She characterized the conscription of women claims as 'false news' and stated that while voluntary training courses for women exist, no women have yet been conscripted or trained under this law.

Known from the source

• The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar published a report on August 11 documenting increased military airstrikes against civilians before Myanmar’s 2025-26 elections.
• The military and various armed groups have committed war crimes and serious abuses including sexual violence and torture over the past year according to the IIMM.
• Myanmar’s 2025-26 elections took place from December 28, 2025, to January 25, 2026, and were widely regarded by Western countries and rights groups as not free or fair.
• Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president on April 10 by the pro-military parliament formed after the elections.
• The People’s Military Service Law enforces military conscription on males aged 18 to 35 since February 2024.

What remains unclear

Meanwhile, a coalition of over 150 civil society organizations has criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for allegedly allowing its August 3 meeting with detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to be exploited by the regime for propaganda purposes. The groups claim the ICRC compromised neutrality by enabling the regime to present an illusion of legitimacy, highlighting concerns over humanitarian agency access and operational transparency.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Number and locations of civilians affected or killed by military airstrikes as per the IIMM or other sources. Independent confirmation of reports alleging forced conscription of women. Verification of the nature and impact of abuses attributed to all conflict parties during the election period.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: DVB English. Open the source.