Air Strike by Myanmar Military Kills at Least 17 Civilians in Rakhine State
At least 17 civilians were killed and more than a dozen others injured after Myanmar’s military carried out an air strike in the country’s western Rakhine state, according to local media and community groups, marking another deadly episode in the nation’s protracted civil war.
The strike hit Yoengu village in Ponnagyun Township on Tuesday, the Democratic Voice of Burma reported. Women and children were among those killed when bombs struck residential areas, the outlet said.
Yoengu village is located roughly 33 kilometers northeast of Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state. The area has been under the control of the Arakan Army (AA) since March 2024, following intense fighting with Myanmar’s military.
In a statement, the Arakan Army identified 17 people it described as “innocent civilians” killed in the attack, including three children. It added that at least 15 others were wounded, though local aid groups said casualty numbers could rise as some victims remain in critical condition.
Witnesses describe devastation
Local residents and volunteers who arrived at the scene described widespread destruction and chaos.
Pyae Phyo Naing, chairman of the Ponnagyun Youths Association, said several buildings were destroyed by fire triggered by the air strike.
“The situation was really bad,” the 23-year-old told the Agence France-Presse. “Some people were crying, while many dead bodies were scattered across the area.”
He added that when volunteers reached the village, some houses were still burning and residents were fleeing in fear of further attacks.
Part of a wider civil war
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been gripped by political instability and violence since the military seized power in a coup in 2021, overthrowing the elected civilian government. The takeover triggered mass pro-democracy protests that were violently suppressed, leading to the emergence of armed resistance groups across the country.
Since then, the conflict has evolved into a nationwide civil war involving democracy activists, ethnic armed organizations, and the military junta. According to the United Nations, thousands of people have been killed and approximately 3.6 million have been displaced from their homes.
Rakhine state, on Myanmar’s western coast, has become one of the hardest-hit regions. The Arakan Army now controls most of the state, while the military has imposed blockades and repeatedly used air power against areas outside its control.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The conflict, combined with military restrictions and recent reductions in international aid, has worsened humanitarian conditions across Rakhine. The World Food Programme warned last year of a “dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition” in the state, particularly among children and displaced families.
Aid agencies say continued air strikes and access restrictions are making it increasingly difficult to deliver food, medical supplies, and emergency assistance to civilians trapped in conflict zones.
The latest attack comes weeks after a military-backed election victory was rejected by international observers, who dismissed the vote as lacking legitimacy amid ongoing violence and repression.
As fighting intensifies and air strikes continue, residents in Rakhine state fear further civilian casualties, with little sign of a ceasefire or political resolution in sight.