Myanmar’s Mandalay International Airport has been temporarily closed following a drone attack near the facility, with security officials saying the shutdown will remain in place through the weekend.

The airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs, was targeted by six so-called “suicide drones” on Thursday afternoon, according to Myanmar’s military-backed authorities. No casualties were reported, but the incident disrupted flight operations.

A security official told AFP on Friday that the airport would remain closed for two days as a precaution, despite the drones striking some distance from the main terminal.

“The airport is closed protectively,” the official said, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to brief the media.

Another security officer, working at a separate airport in Myanmar, said the Mandalay facility would remain closed for “maintenance” until Sunday.

The attack marks an unusual security incident in Mandalay, a major urban centre that has largely remained under military control since the country’s 2021 coup. The authorities blamed the drone operation on pro-democracy armed groups, particularly the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), which emerged after the military takeover.

According to TRT World, Myanmar’s military has faced growing attacks from armed resistance groups as the conflict enters its fifth year, with drones increasingly being used by both sides.

The military-backed government described Mandalay airport as a civilian public transportation facility and did not acknowledge any military activity at the site. However, the airport has also been identified by civilian air-raid monitoring groups as a location associated with military aviation.

AFP journalists have previously observed military aircraft operating around Mandalay airport, although the exact location and nature of Thursday’s drone attack could not be independently established.

Myanmar’s conflict has intensified since the military seized power in February 2021, triggering widespread armed resistance alongside longstanding fighting between the military and ethnic armed organisations.

The military has increasingly relied on air power to counter resistance forces, while armed groups have expanded their use of drones and other relatively low-cost weapons.

Rights groups have accused Myanmar’s military of carrying out airstrikes against civilian locations, including schools, monasteries and public gatherings. Such attacks have contributed to a growing humanitarian crisis, with conflict monitors estimating that more than 100,000 people have been killed since the fighting escalated after the coup.

The temporary closure of Mandalay airport underscores the widening security risks around major civilian infrastructure as fighting and drone warfare continue to spread across Myanmar.

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