Eight civilians were killed and over 20 others were injured by two airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar military in Sagaing Region’s Talaing village on June 30. Such airstrikes by the Myanmar military have grown in frequency, especially in resistance strongholds that are under the control of the opposition National Unity Government’s People’s Defense Forces.
The secret behind the Myanmar military’s increasing airstrikes is its unhindered access to jet fuel through an intricate and opaque network of intermediaries, offshore entities, and regional trading partners across several countries.
For several months after the coup of February 2021, the bulk of aviation fuel entered Myanmar as direct sales of fuel shipments, where suppliers were easily traceable. Over time, supplies became more indirect, especially after the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and other countries imposed sanctions on Myanmar.
From 2023, fuel was bought and sold more than once before being imported into Myanmar to camouflage the original suppliers.
Amnesty International and Reuters have documented the role of Iran in supplying jet fuel to Myanmar through a fleet of ghost ships that actively engage in spoofing – a technique common among cargo ships and tankers making illicit deliveries – to conceal their role.
