Myanmar military strike on Buddhist monastery kills 14, including three women

Myanmar’s military struck a Buddhist monastery in the Sagaing region, killing 14 people, including three women, and injuring 20 others, according to an opposition group and a local villager. The attack occurred in Swel Le Oh village, Myaung township, approximately 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. A fighter jet reportedly dropped a bomb inside the monastery compound, according to Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence and Security Organisation of Myaung Township (CDSOM). The strike happened during a weeklong meditation retreat held during Buddhist Lent, which attracted more than 100 participants. Villagers described the attack as devastating, noting that the first bomb fell about 15 minutes before a second one hit nearby, damaging a house close to the monastery. After the attack, residents fled to a neighboring community following the cremation of the victims’ bodies. The airstrike marks another instance of the military’s escalating use of force against both armed pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups. These attacks frequently lead to civilian casualties, a pattern that has drawn international condemnation. The incident follows a report by the United Nations-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), which noted a “notable escalation” in military airstrikes in the months preceding the December and January elections. The IIMM further stated that such attacks have continued “unabated” since the elections. In response to the IIMM’s findings, Myanmar’s foreign ministry dismissed the claims, asserting that “limited airstrikes” and counterterrorism operations target only military assets. Officials emphasized that these actions comply with rules of engagement and that security forces take measures to minimize harm to civilians. Despite this stance, the frequency and scale of the attacks suggest otherwise, particularly given the lack of effective defenses among resistance groups. Since seizing power from the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, Myanmar has remained embroiled in conflict. The military’s violent suppression of peaceful protests sparked widespread unrest, prompting many opponents to take up arms. Large portions of the country continue to experience intense fighting, with the military increasingly relying on airstrikes to neutralize opposition forces. The People’s Defence Forces, a key resistance group based in Sagaing, have struggled to defend themselves against aerial assaults due to limited resources and technology. The airstrike on the monastery underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the broader instability gripping the nation. With the military maintaining its dominance through aggressive tactics, the situation for civilians, particularly religious communities, remains perilous. As tensions persist, the international community continues to call for accountability and an end to violence, though progress appears slow amid deepening divisions and entrenched conflicts.