Airstrikes in Rakhine kill one, injure at least 14, including monks

Multiple airstrikes by Myanmar’s military killed at least one civilian and injured 14 others, including Buddhist monks, in Rakhine State on Sunday, according to the Arakan Army (AA). The attacks, targeting Ponnagyun and Mrauk-U townships, began at around 10am, when three fighter jets carried out a series of seven bombing runs on sites in Ponnagyun Township over a 30-minute period. Among the locations struck were an urban ward in the town of Ponnagyun, where six houses were damaged; a youth training centre in the village of Ywathayekan; and a local power station, which was set on fire, the AA said. One civilian was injured, the group added. At around noon, a jet fighter carried out a strike on Ngatkyi Kyun, another village in Ponnagyun Township, killing one civilian, according to the group. Further north, two airstrikes hit the village of Kyauksaepyin in Mrauk-U Township at around 10am and 12:30pm, injuring 13 people, including three monks. Religious buildings and nearby homes were damaged or destroyed by fire. Kyauksaepyin is home to members of the Mro ethnic group, one of Rakhine State’s smaller Indigenous communities. A resident of Mrauk-U Township said there was little warning before the airstrike. “I was asleep when the bombs were dropped. I didn’t really hear the aircraft—only the explosions. I was terrified and ran downstairs to take shelter in a bomb pit,” the resident said. Wai Hin Aung, a local humanitarian worker, said recent air raids have involved multiple aircraft operating in groups. The AA also reported that the military carried out aerial attacks in Kyauktaw Township and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State in recent days, using five jet fighters and two Y-12 aircraft to target civilian areas. The escalation comes as fighting intensifies between the military and the AA, which controls Paletwa Township as well as 14 of Rakhine State’s 17 townships. Clashes are ongoing in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, which are still under military control. The AA’s commander-in-chief, Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing, has vowed to take full control of the state by the end of next year.

Airstrikes in Rakhine kill one, injure at least 14, including monks

Myanmar’s military has intensified its attacks in the state as the Arakan Army continues its push for full control

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