New Delhi: A deadly airstrike by Myanmar’s military has claimed the lives of at least 40 civilians and left more than 20 injured in a village controlled by an ethnic armed group in western Rakhine State.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday in Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, also caused a massive fire that destroyed hundreds of homes, according to local officials and humanitarian sources.
The village, under the control of the Arakan Army, was struck by a military jet that reportedly targeted its marketplace.
Among the casualties were women and children, while those injured face critical shortages of medical supplies.
Khaing Thukha, spokesperson for the Arakan Army, confirmed the attack, labeling it a civilian tragedy. Despite the scale of destruction, Myanmar’s military has not commented on the airstrike.
Independent verification has been difficult due to restricted communication networks in the area.
Myanmar has been engulfed in turmoil since the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
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The coup triggered a nationwide uprising, leading to fierce clashes between the military and pro-democracy groups, including the People’s Defense Forces, as well as long-standing ethnic armed groups like the Arakan Army.
The military has increasingly relied on airstrikes in its campaign against opposition forces, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Kyauk Ni Maw village is situated on Ramree Island, a strategic region captured by the Arakan Army in March last year.
The group, which has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Rakhine ethnic minority, now controls most of Rakhine State, with only the capital, Sittwe, and two other townships remaining under military control.
The Arakan Army has emerged as a formidable force, aligning with other ethnic armed groups to challenge the military across Myanmar.
The airstrike has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Rakhine State.
Local humanitarian workers have reported critical shortages of medicine for the injured.
Photos from the aftermath show residents battling fires that engulfed their homes, leaving many displaced.
Rakhine has long been a site of ethnic tensions, most notably during the military’s 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, which forced over 740,000 people to flee to Bangladesh.
The recent airstrike underscores the persistent violence and suffering faced by civilians in Myanmar’s conflict zones, as the country’s crisis deepens.
