World

Mandalay Airport Shuts Down for Two Days Following Drone Strike Blamed on Myanmar Rebels

By AFP

Myanmar's second-busiest airport was shut for two days starting Friday, September 11, 2026, according to security sources who spoke to AFP. The closure came after the military-backed government accused pro-democracy rebel forces of striking the facility with drones. Mandalay Airport serves as both an international and domestic travel hub in central Myanmar. Civilian air raid warning groups have also identified it as a launch point for military aircraft conducting operations. According to a government statement, six "suicide drones" targeted the airport on Thursday afternoon, September 10, 2026. The attack caused no injuries or deaths but disrupted flight operations. A security source told AFP on Friday that the airport would remain closed for that day and the following day. The source, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to address media, explained that although the strike occurred some distance from the terminal building, officials closed the airport as a precautionary measure. A separate security official at another Myanmar airport, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that the Mandalay facility would remain shut for maintenance until Sunday, September 13, 2026. The broader context traces back to 2021, when Myanmar's military seized power in a coup, overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi's government and ending a ten-year period of democratic governance. This action ignited a civil war that has now persisted for five years, with the military currently pursuing offensive operations against numerous pro-democracy and ethnic minority armed groups. Thursday's drone attack represented an unusual instance of the government acknowledging a rebel strike within one of Myanmar's major urban centers, areas that have largely remained under military control throughout the conflict. Authorities attributed the attack to pro-democracy fighters who took up arms following the 2021 coup, with the People's Defence Forces identified as the primary group involved. The government's statement characterized the airport as "a non-military, public transportation system." AFP could not independently verify whether the attack site served civilian or military purposes, though AFP journalists have previously observed military aircraft operating over Mandalay Airport. Both rebel factions and Myanmar's military now deploy drones in the ongoing conflict, which some monitoring groups estimate has claimed more than 100,000 lives. Analysts note that Myanmar's air force, equipped with Chinese- and Russian-manufactured jets, has played a crucial role in repelling rebel offensives. However, the air force has also faced accusations of targeting civilians at schools, monasteries, and public gatherings, resulting in significant casualties that human rights organizations have flagged as potential war crimes.