Image Credentials: Image Title: Dual Crisis in Myanmar: Airstrikes Batter Kachin State as NUG Minister Resigns Source: (sora.openai) Date: Feb 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
BANMAW, Myanmar – The ongoing conflict in Myanmar reached a new fever pitch this weekend as the military junta launched a series of devastating airstrikes against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Myanmar. Simultaneously, the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) is facing internal turmoil following the high-profile resignation of a key cabinet member.
The military strikes, which began early Saturday morning, targeted KIA positions near the town of Banmaw. Local sources report that at least two fighter jets dropped ordnance on a KIA training camp and nearby civilian areas, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee into the surrounding jungle.
Escalation in the North
The KIA, one of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), has been a thorn in the side of the junta since the 2021 coup. Recent weeks have seen the KIA seize several key junta outposts, and these latest airstrikes are widely viewed as a desperate retaliatory measure by the military council to reclaim lost ground.
“The bombs fell near the school and the clinic,” said a Banmaw resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “There is no safety here anymore. The planes come at any time, and we have nowhere to hide but the trees.” While the KIA has not yet released an official casualty count, early reports suggest multiple injuries among both combatants and non-combatants.
Internal Fractures: Kyi Pyar Resigns
While the physical war rages in Kachin State, a political battle is unfolding within the NUG, the parallel government formed by ousted lawmakers. Kyi Pyar, the NUG’s Deputy Minister of Education, officially resigned her post on Sunday.
The resignation follows a formal reprimand from the NUG leadership. Sources indicate that the tension stemmed from “administrative disagreements” and a public social media post by Kyi Pyar that was deemed inconsistent with the government’s official stance.
In a brief statement, Kyi Pyar confirmed her departure, noting that she would continue to support the “Spring Revolution” but could no longer serve in her current capacity under the existing leadership structure. The NUG’s Ministry of Education has yet to name a successor, leaving a significant vacancy in the administration’s efforts to provide alternative schooling for millions of children boycotting the state-run system.
A Revolution at a Crossroads
The dual developments highlight the immense pressure facing the anti-junta resistance. On the battlefield, the military’s superior air power continues to exact a heavy toll on ethnic territories. Politically, the NUG must navigate the complex egos and ideologies of a diverse coalition of activists and ethnic leaders.
As the junta prepares for another round of offensives in the dry season, the international community remains largely deadlocked, leaving the people of Kachin State and the NUG to face an uncertain and increasingly violent future.