Myanmar military airstrike kills 14 at Buddhist monastery: reports

A military airstrike in central Myanmar’s Sagaing region struck a Buddhist monastery, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 20, according to an anti-government resistance group and local witnesses. The attack occurred in Swel Le Oh village, near Myaung township, approximately 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The strike, which targeted civilians attending a meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent, marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between the military regime and pro-democracy forces. The airstrike reportedly took place on Friday, with a military jet dropping two bombs within 15 minutes, according to a villager interviewed by the Associated Press. The second bomb damaged a nearby house, further highlighting the destruction caused by the attack. More than 100 people were gathered at the site for the weeklong retreat, which is a traditional Buddhist observance. Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township, confirmed the casualty figures and described the victims as including three women. He also stated that the attack was deliberate, not a mistake, and that the military intentionally targeted the monastery. This incident adds to a pattern of aerial assaults by the military regime, particularly in Sagaing, a region known for its strong presence of armed resistance. The military has frequently used airstrikes as a tactic against opposition groups, often striking civilian areas and infrastructure. According to the United Nations' Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), there has been a noticeable increase in aerial attacks over the past year. The mechanism accused the military-backed government of conducting “indiscriminate and intentional aerial attacks against civilians.” The military has not officially confirmed the strike, nor has it issued a statement regarding the casualties. However, the regime continues to justify its actions as necessary measures against “insurgents” and “terrorists.” On Sunday, Myanmar’s foreign ministry dismissed the IIMM report, asserting that its operations are aimed at countering threats and that it exercises maximum caution to prevent civilian casualties. The conflict in Myanmar began after the military seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Suu Kyi was arrested and later sentenced to long prison terms on charges widely considered politically motivated. In May, she was placed under house arrest. Her son, Min Aung Hlaing, who previously served as head of the junta, was recently appointed president, reinforcing the military’s grip on power. Since the coup, the situation has deteriorated significantly. Pro-democracy activists and ordinary citizens have faced severe repression, leading many to arm themselves and join armed resistance movements. Conflict monitoring group ACLED estimates that over 100,000 people have died in the conflict since 2019. This includes both military personnel and civilians, with the violence intensifying in recent months. Myanmar held elections earlier this year, which were widely regarded as fraudulent. The results saw the reinstatement of General Min Aung Hlaing as president, allowing the military to maintain control while presenting itself as a civilian administration. These developments underscore the deepening crisis in the country, with international condemnation growing alongside the escalating violence.