Unidentified drones carried out a series of strikes overnight on October 20, hitting several insurgent camps deep inside the forests along the Indo-Myanmar border. The attack reportedly killed five militants.

Intelligence and local sources said the camps were run by northeastern insurgent groups active near the border. Officials described the operation as a “precise and coordinated operation”, calling it one of the most significant cross-border actions in recent times.

Early reports suggested that between five and eight people were killed and more than two dozen were injured, including senior members of the armed groups. The strikes also destroyed command centres, ammunition storage sites, and living quarters.

Some unconfirmed reports from the ground said that a few top insurgent leaders might be among those killed, but authorities have not confirmed this yet.

The attack came shortly after a rise in militant activity near the Arunachal Pradesh-Myanmar border. On October 16, armed militants had ambushed a security post close to the border, injuring several personnel.

The latest drone strikes appeared to be a response meant to neutralise cross-border threats and prevent future attacks.

For years, this stretch along the international border has been a refuge for several rebel groups taking advantage of Myanmar’s internal unrest. Security analysts said the recent strikes show how drone technology is becoming a key part of counter-insurgency operations across Southeast Asia.

Experts added that such targeted operations point to a changing border security strategy, one that now relies more on precision technology rather than large ground movements.

Governments in both India and Myanmar have not made any public statements yet, but monitoring groups in the region said security has been tightened across Changlang and Tirap districts.

Meanwhile, social media was flooded with posts under hashtags like #DroneStrikeMyanmar and #BorderSecurity, with users sharing unverified videos showing explosions and debris.