11 May 2026 – The State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military forces launched a major offensive to regain control of the Falam-Hakha-Rihkhawdar Road corridor in Chin State, deploying significant reinforcements toward the India-Myanmar border.
The intensified clashes and fears of airstrikes have caused mass displacement, forcing villagers along the route to flee to safer areas, border regions, and Mizoram State, India. Residents from the Hlawnceu mountain area, for instance, have fled towards Tiahdai, Tio, and Zokhawthar.
Civilians are fleeing preemptively due to well-founded fears of indiscriminate SSPC airstrikes, village burnings, and the military’s documented use of human shields.
A displaced woman told Zalen that fighting is nearing her village and noted a recent airstrike on Khawpuichhip that reportedly killed around six children despite no active clashes in the area.
The SSPC, having lost strategic control in other areas, increasingly relies on airpower and frequent, indiscriminate air and drone attacks across Chin State, targeting non-military sites and infrastructure.
This push on the Falam-Hakha-Rihkhawdar route is part of a severe, large-scale military campaign, involving an estimated 1,500 troops, aimed at re-establishing complete control over northern Chin State.
Recent updates indicate the SSPC has seized the strategic Laiva Dam and conducted repeated airstrikes near Kyaukhtu and Mindat, causing widespread displacement and the destruction of civilian homes.
Despite the offensive, most border areas, including the India-Myanmar Border Trade Post No. 2, reportedly remain under the control of Chin resistance allied forces.
Frequent clashes between Chin resistance forces, including the Chin National Army (CNA), and SSPC troops also continue along the Falam-Hakha and Kalay-Tedim Road corridors.
Troop movements by SSPC forces advancing toward the Rih route have also triggered mass displacement from several villages. – Reporting by Daniel
