The junta used chemical weapons against Danu People's Liberation Front (DPLF) fighters in the Kyaukgu area of Yatsauk (Lawksawk) Township, southern Shan State on 20 May 2025.

As the junta called in reinforcements and repeatedly tried to advance into the Kyaukgu area it dropped four gas bombs from aircraft and fired two artillery gas shells between noon and 3:00 pm on 20 May, during fighting near to Loihawng and Hpetyinkone villages in the Kyaukgu area, according to a DPLA fighter.

He said to Shan Herald: “The junta’s [conventional, non chemical weapon] bombings were still ongoing as of yesterday [21 May]. The day before, it also used poison gas bombs, but thankfully none of our troops were hit this time [on 20 May] It has used these kinds of bombs before, and when our comrades were exposed back then, they suffered badly. It took about three days of careful treatment for them to recover. Over the past few days, the junta has been repeatedly trying to advance in Kyaukgu.”

The DPLA condemned the junta and accused it of committing war crimes by using internationally banned chemical weapons in the form of poison gas bombs. It also noted that the junta had previously used chemical weapons against the DPLA in Tawngkham Village in southern Shan State’s Naungcho (Nawnghkio) Township on 20 April 2025.

This is not the first report of the junta using chemical weapons. There have been frequent other reports of the junta using chemical weapons. For instance in Shan State in February 2025 and in Mawdaung Town in Tanintharyi Township on 7 April 2025.

In previous fighting between the DPLA and the junta in the Kyaukgu area, on 21 April 2025, the DPLA captured three junta prisoners of war and both sides suffered casualties.

The DPLA has urged the public to remain vigilant and be alert for airstrikes because the junta frequently targets civilian areas.