Myanmar military air strike results in casualties in Rakhine state

An air strike conducted by Myanmar’s military has resulted in the deaths of at least 33 individuals in an area controlled by rebel factions. The attack occurred near a market in northern Rakhine state on Monday, injuring 36 others, according to reports from rescue and rebel group officials. The Arakan army stated that a fighter jet dropped two bombs near a local market in Kyauktaw at noon local time (0530 GMT), affecting vendors, shoppers, and pedestrians. The death toll is expected to rise. Wai Hun Aung, a senior rescue official in Rakhine, confirmed these details to the Associated Press, noting that the market serves as the main wholesale center for the region. He described the airstrike as one of the most severe in Rakhine, with social media posts showing buildings ablaze and damaged infrastructure. The military has not commented on the incident but has previously asserted that its strikes target legitimate military objectives, accusing resistance groups of engaging in terrorism. Since the ousting of the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, Myanmar has experienced ongoing conflict, with a nationwide resistance movement evolving into a civil war involving the military government and various armed ethnic and pro-democracy groups. In April, President Min Aung Hlaing was elected by a military-backed Parliament, solidifying his control after five years of military rule. The Arakan army, which seeks autonomy for Rakhine’s ethnic minority, has launched an offensive since November 2023, capturing significant military positions and most of the state’s townships. The military has imposed strict trade route restrictions in Rakhine, exacerbating food shortages. In December, a military airstrike on a hospital in Mrauk U township resulted in at least 33 deaths and 70 injuries. Nearly half a million individuals are displaced in Rakhine due to the ongoing conflict, according to United Nations data. The UN reported in August that the human rights situation in Myanmar has significantly deteriorated, citing severe abuses against the Rohingya minority and the negative effects of illegal economic activities. Both rebel groups and the military are now employing drones in the ongoing conflict, which has claimed over 100,000 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project.