Myanmar’s junta embassies have cautioned citizens in the Middle East to be vigilant following escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, according to a report from Mizzima News on Tuesday.
The advisory comes amid a complex internal struggle within Myanmar itself, where the military government has granted amnesty to over 7,000 prisoners detained on “terrorism” charges in observance of Farmers’ Day. The release, reported by Mizzima, appears to be an attempt to project stability and goodwill, though the definition of “terrorism” charges remains broadly applied by the junta.
The move follows years of escalating conflict since the February 2021 coup, which prompted independent media outlets like Mizzima News to relocate operations to remote regions to avoid government crackdowns. Founded in 1998 by Myanmar refugees in India, Mizzima News has continued to publish and broadcast despite censorship, internet shutdowns, and financial challenges, according to a Global Voices report from May 2025.
Soe Myint, founder of Mizzima News, anticipated the coup and proactively prepared the organization to continue operating under military rule. “We have two options,” Myint reportedly said, as recounted by Global Voices. “We stop our work, which is what the military regime wanted us [to do]. Second option is we continue our work.”
The ongoing “Spring Revolution,” as it is known by resistance groups, is characterized by a fragmented coalition of armed groups, local militias, and established ethnic forces, according to a recent Mizzima Weekly digital magazine. National Unity Government Acting President Duwa Lashi La has recently emphasized the need for unity within the resistance movement, highlighting a key challenge to its effectiveness.
Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, has stressed the importance of maintaining Myanmar’s voting rights at the UN as a vital component of the revolution, as reported in an exclusive interview with Mizzima Media on February 20, 2026.
