The United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released its latest report stating that the Myanmar military has increased both the frequency and severity of air attacks on civilians, targeting homes, schools, medical facilities, religious sites, and displacement camps. The evidence also points to arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence amid an ongoing conflict with no sign of resolution.
The IIMM published its annual report on 11 Aug 2026, noting that the Myanmar military continues to escalate air strikes and crimes against civilians, especially before and after the elections held in January. These attacks have persisted without pause to the present day.
The report covers the period from 1 Jul 2025 to 30 Jun 2026 and identifies a pattern of deliberate air strikes on civilian areas including homes, schools, hospitals, religious sites, and internal displacement camps, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property damage.
IIMM pointed out that the military's increased use of small paramotor aircraft and drones makes it harder for civilians to detect attacks and leaves them less time to flee or seek shelter. The investigative team has identified some military units believed to be involved in these attacks.
Nicholas Koumjian, head of the investigative mechanism, said that behind every piece of evidence collected are the lives of people severely affected by these crimes. He warned that communities across Myanmar not only live under continuous threats of violence but also face deep and lasting impacts from these events.
The report also found extensive evidence of arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence in military-controlled detention centers, including cases linked to the 2025 law that criminalizes criticism of the elections.
Under this law, many individuals have been arrested and may face up to 20 years imprisonment or even the death penalty for acts such as posting critical comments about the election on social media.
The conflict in Rakhine State has significantly intensified during the reporting period, with the Myanmar military continuing fighting against the Arakan Army, an influential ethnic armed group in the region. Overall, the conflict between the Myanmar military and multiple armed groups nationwide shows no signs of ending.
IIMM stated that while most evidence collected relates to crimes allegedly committed by Myanmar’s security forces and allied armed groups, the investigative mechanism also examines allegations of atrocities by armed groups opposing the military.
To date, IIMM has collected and processed over 28 million pieces of information and evidence from more than 1,600 sources, including over 750 witness testimonies, photographs, videos, audio files, documents, maps, satellite images, geospatial data, social media posts, and forensic evidence.
IIMM was established by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018 to gather and analyze evidence of serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. It preserves evidence and compiles information to support prosecutions at national, regional, and international courts.
The investigative mechanism shares evidence and analysis with entities prosecuting crimes against the Rohingya people, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and legal proceedings in Argentina. It also responds to requests from other bodies investigating crimes that occurred after the 2021 coup.
IIMM has provided extensive evidence and analysis to parties in the case of The Gambia v. Myanmar, currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The case accuses Myanmar of breaching its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention during the 2016-2017 Rohingya clearance operations.
However, IIMM reports facing budget cuts that have reduced its resources and investigative capacity at a time when serious international crimes in Myanmar are escalating.
Koumjian emphasized that gathering evidence is vital for victims because it assures them that their experiences are being recorded and may lead to justice in the future.
He also stated that IIMM is investigating whether individuals or entities outside Myanmar who support the conflict by supplying weapons and materials to parties involved could be prosecuted for violating sanctions or anti-money laundering laws.
IIMM noted that the Myanmar military has never cooperated with the investigative mechanism and has not responded to requests for information.
The coup on 1 Feb 2021, which overthrew the civilian government elected under Aung San Suu Kyi, ended Myanmar’s approximately 10-year democratic transition and plunged the country into a severe armed conflict and humanitarian crisis. The latest IIMM report indicates that violence continues and the impact on civilians is intensifying.