Myanmar’s leadership says drones have been shot down over the capital, Naypyitaw. The attack comes with the ruling military junta fighting battles on several fronts against ethnic insurgents.

The military junta on Thursday said Myanmar’s security services had downed seven drones over the capital Naypyitaw.

A military base was said to be the target of the rare attack, which comes as the government struggles to contain a growing armed resistance movement.

What we know so far

Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) said the drones had hit military headquarters and an air force base. It said preliminary reports suggested that there had been casualties.

“The synchronized drone operations were simultaneously executed against Naypyitaw, targeting both the headquarters of the terrorist military and Alar Air Base,” the NUG said in a statement.

If confirmed, the attack would dent the credibility of the junta, which is facing its biggest test it seized control of the former British colony in 1962. Naypyitaw, built in a remote area of central Myanmar,  is the junta’s seat of power and home to much of its defense hardware.

The NUG account differed from the government’s, which said four drones approached Naypyitaw airport and three others were headed toward the capital’s Zayarthiri township.

A statement from the junta’s information team said they had been “successfully shot down and destroyed” and that there had been no damage or casualties.

Source: Dw