Newly released combat footage shows fighters from Myanmar’s People’s Defense Forces (PDF) storming a Burmese military facility in Dawei, referred to as Shwe Gu Gate by rebel associated pages. The first-person perspective video, shared by @War_Noir, a well-known armament tracker and cofounder of Militant Wire, offers a rare look at the tactics and weaponry used by the PDF against junta forces. The attack reportedly resulted in the death of at least one Burmese officer, with claims of additional casualties.
Based on analysis by @War_Noir, the fighters appear to be using a mix of domestic MA-3 Mk.2 rifles, M79 grenade launchers, and foreign AR-15 variants.
In a familiar trend among guerrilla fighters in Southeast Asia, many are seen engaging in battle wearing flip-flops rather than military boots.
At 0:50, the footage captures a direct point-of-view engagement, where the fighter scores a confirmed kill on a fleeing enemy soldier. The attack appears to be a well-coordinated hit-and-run operation, a hallmark of the PDF’s guerrilla strategy.
#Myanmar (#Burma) 🇲🇲: People’s Defense Forces (#PDF) raided a Burmese Military Gate and killed several officers in #Dawei.
Fighters seemingly armed with locally-made 40mm M79 grenade launcher, MA-3 MK 2 assault rifles and AR-15 rifles.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/thAyEgN70y
— War Noir (@war_noir) January 31, 2025
The MA-3 Mk.2, a compact carbine derived from Myanmar’s domestically produced MA-1 series, is one of the key weapons visible in the footage. Designed for maneuverability in close-quarters combat, it features a shorter barrel and a folding stock, making it well-suited for ambush tactics in Myanmar’s dense jungle terrain. The rifle is chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO rounds, produced by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries under the control of the military junta, indicating they were likely seized from military stockpiles during raids and engagements.
The presence of AR-15-pattern rifles also suggests access to either smuggled or captured foreign weaponry.
The engagement comes as Myanmar’s civil war enters its fifth year, with resistance groups continuing to gain ground against the military junta. Over the past year, rebel forces have overrun two regional command bases for the first time and seized large areas in the country’s west and northeast. The Myanmar military, struggling with manpower shortages, has resorted to enforcing a controversial conscription law to replenish its ranks.
Both the junta and resistance forces have begun integrating FPV drones into their operations, introducing new battlefield dynamics. However, small-arms engagements and ambush tactics remain central to the conflict, as seen in this raid.
Myanmar’s war remains heavily underreported, but its complexity and scale make it one of the most significant armed uprisings in modern Southeast Asian history.
This isn’t the first time unconventional tactics have been observed among the country’s resistance groups, just recently, another rebel faction was documented using elephants to transport supplies through remote jungle terrain.
