Mandalay airport closed after six ‘suicide drones’ attack

Mandalay airport in Myanmar was shut down for two days starting September 11th, according to security sources speaking to AFP. The military-backed government accused pro-democracy rebels of carrying out the attack by means of six suicide drones. The drones struck the airport on September 11th afternoon, causing no casualties but leading to flight schedule disruptions.

The airport closure was announced by a security source who could not be quoted due to media restrictions. Another security officer at a different airport in Myanmar also confirmed the Mandalay facility would remain closed until Sunday, citing it was closed for maintenance.

Myanmar's military, which took power in a coup in 2021, is currently waging an offensive against various pro-democracy and ethnic minority guerrilla groups. This drone raid marked a rare acknowledgement of a rebel attack in one of Myanmar's major urban areas, typically considered a stronghold for the military. The government blamed the attack on pro-democracy guerrillas, known as the People's Defence Forces, who emerged after the coup.

Verification of the civilian or military nature of the attack site remains unclear, though AFP reporters have previously observed military aircraft flying over Mandalay airport. Both rebels and the military employ drones in the ongoing civil war, which has reportedly resulted in over 100,000 deaths. However, the military's air force, equipped with Chinese and Russian-made jets, is seen as crucial in repelling rebel factions.

Yet, the air wing has also been accused of targeting civilians at schools, monasteries, and public festivals, causing mass casualties that rights groups have labeled as potential war crimes.