Myanmar Anti-junta Troops Launch Attack On Military Facilities In The Capital Naypyitaw

Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw. (Wikimedia Commons/Hybernator)

JAKARTA - Anti-junta forces in Myanmar carried out a coordinated drone strike against military facilities in the nation's capital on Thursday, military TV and parallel governments said, claiming the attack was thwarted and drones were brought down.

The Government of National Unity (NUG), an alliance of anti-junta groups formed to weaken military power after the 2021 coup, said "the drone attacks carried out simultaneously and coordinated" were carried out by its armed affiliates, the People's Defense Forces (PDF), against military headquarters and air force bases.

His party did not say whether the target was hit by an attack, but the initial report indicated that there were casualties.

"This is a success. This drone strike is a long-range and stronger attack than usual. We have plans to do more," said NUG spokesman Kyaw Zaw.

"This is a time when the junta is forced to conscript and cause fear for society. With the attack that attacks their nervous center, Naypyitaw, we want to emphasize that they do not have a safe place," he continued.

The People's Defense Forces in Naypyitaw said the troops in particular and so-called the Kloud Drone branch and the Deadly Arms branch carried out Thursday's attack under the instructions of the NUG Ministry of Defense. But they did not provide details.

Naypyitaw is the center of power of military rule and home to most of its defense hardware, which was built in remote areas of central Myanmar two decades ago by the previous 22-year-old junta.

Meanwhile, military-run Myawaddy TV said in its evening news bulletin "terrorists" attempt to destroy the "important location" in Naypyitaw had been thwarted, with 13 wing drones still shot down, four carrying explosives.

Myawaddy said there were no casualties or property damage and showed pictures of nine small drones, some of which were damaged.

However, the attack could undermine the credibility of a fully equipped military that views itself as Myanmar's only protector of sovereignty, and see Naypyitaw as its stronghold, as the country faces the biggest test since it first took control of the former British colony in 1962.

This comes more than a week after Myanmar's ruler, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, addressed the Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw, when he said he held only temporary power, calling for unity among the people and soldiers to fight what he called foreign-backed militants trying to destroy the country.

Myanmar's military-appointed president last year said his country was at risk of breaking up due to insurgency.

In an interview posted on NUG's media channel on Thursday night, his permanent secretary, Naing Htoo Aung, said Min Aung Hlaing's residence was also targeted on Thursday, adding 30 drones were used.

"They have spent millions of dollars on complex defense systems including air defenses. This is where the military council assumes that attacks will not occur," he said.

"That this 3-year-old defense force is capable of attacking such a place shows a major step forward in the revolution," he said.