On a recent Sunday, a tragic air strike by Myanmar’s military junta resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals, including nine children, and injured 25 others. This incident occurred at a temporary detention area in Mrauk-U Township, located in western Rakhine State, as reported by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority armed group engaged in ongoing conflict with the military for control over the region.
The military jet reportedly bombed the detention area around 4:45 PM local time (10:15 GMT) on Saturday. The site was housing family members of junta soldiers who had been captured by the AA during clashes. According to the AA’s statement on its Telegram channel, the victims included a two-year-old boy, and the majority of those killed were women.
The aftermath of the attack led to poignant imagery, as the AA shared photos of the deceased, covered in white sheets in a grassy area. Alongside these images, grieving individuals were seen nearby. Efforts by AFP to obtain comments from the junta regarding the incident have gone unanswered.
This air strike is part of a broader conflict following the military’s ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in a coup in 2021, which has led to widespread armed resistance across Myanmar. The military is currently facing intense opposition from various fronts, including newly formed youth-led “People’s Defence Forces” and long-established ethnic armed groups like the AA that occupy significant territories along Myanmar’s borders.
The situation in Rakhine is also dire, with the UN Development Programme warning in November that the region could plunge into famine due to ongoing fighting disrupting agriculture and commerce. Additionally, the United Nations reported that over 3.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict since last year, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the continued violence.