Watch: Rebels on the Front Lines of Myanmar’s Civil War

Myanmar’s civil war, now in its fifth year since the military coup that toppled the democratically elected government, continues to devastate the country and reshape the battlefield. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more, as fighting rages between the military junta and an alliance of ethnic armed groups and rebel forces. Although the rebels achieved major gains more than two years ago, the war has recently shifted in the military’s favor in many areas.

The junta has strengthened its position through forced conscription and greater use of drones, giving it renewed momentum on multiple fronts. These changes have helped the military regain the initiative in much of the country, putting pressure on rebel groups that had previously advanced into key areas. What had once looked like a steady rebel push has become a far more difficult struggle, with the balance of power increasingly contested.

To document the situation in territory controlled by insurgents, BBC journalist Quentin Sommerville entered Myanmar without permission from the authorities, the only way to report from rebel-held areas. Over the course of 10 days, he traveled with rebel fighters and visited hospitals and front-line positions in Bago and Karen states. His journey offered a rare look at how civilians and combatants are coping with the war as it evolves.

The conditions on the ground remain severe. Hospitals in conflict zones are treating casualties from ongoing attacks, while fighters on the front lines face relentless pressure from military operations. Rebel-held areas are under constant threat, and the war’s impact is visible in damaged infrastructure, overwhelmed medical facilities, and the strain placed on local communities. The conflict has become not only a military struggle but also a humanitarian crisis, with ordinary people bearing much of the suffering.

The report highlights how Myanmar’s war has entered a more dangerous phase. The military’s use of forced recruitment and drones suggests a more aggressive and technologically enabled campaign, while rebel forces must adapt to new challenges after earlier advances. Despite years of resistance, the conflict shows no sign of ending soon, and the humanitarian toll continues to rise.

From the rebel perspective, the fight is far from over, but the battlefield has become more difficult and uncertain. For civilians, the costs are immense: displacement, fear, shortages, and the collapse of normal life. As the war enters its sixth year, Myanmar remains deeply divided, with no clear path to peace and mounting evidence of the conflict’s lasting damage.