Myanmar’s Civil War Has Become an Apocalypse
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- Myanmar's military seized power in a 2021 coup, ending a brief period of electoral governance and returning the country of roughly 50 million to full army dictatorship
- Rebel groups across Myanmar's heartland remain outgunned and undermanned, with civilians who support them facing relentless military raids and bombardment
- Dr. Lone Lone, a rebel leader of five years' standing, commands fighters in Anyar in central Myanmar — a region no foreign journalist had reached since the 2021 coup, until now
- The military deploys armed drones, fighter jets, attack helicopters, and paraglider pilots dropping hand-held bombs against rebel positions
- New York Times photographer Daniel Berehulak and a reporter traveled with Dr. Lone Lone's group for three days, evading drones and aircraft while passing through villages burned or shelled by the military
- The civil war receives little international attention compared to conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, and Lebanon, even as Myanmar has 'quietly collapsed' into a humanitarian crisis
Why it matters: A nation of 50 million has been in open civil war for five years with minimal international press access — this New York Times expedition into Anyar, central Myanmar, marks the first time foreign journalists have reached the region since the 2021 coup, offering a rare window into a conflict the world has effectively stopped watching.
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