In brief
A devastating air strike by the Myanmar military on a monastery in Myaung township killed fourteen elderly civilians and injured several monks, occurring early Friday. Opposition rebels and a rescue worker reported the attack hit the site twice during a Buddhist Lent meditation retreat. Victims were aged between 50 and 70, mostly men, with five from one village. The strike adds to ongoing conflict since the 2021 coup, with the military denying civilian targeting. Calls for an investigation and accountability have emerged among locals and international observers.
The Myanmar military reportedly struck a monastery in Myaung township early Friday, killing fourteen elderly people and injuring several monks.
Civilians were gathered at the site for a meditation retreat marking Buddhist Lent when the attack happened at about 09:00 local time (02:30 GMT).
Opposition rebels and a local rescue worker said the site was hit twice, with victims aged between 50 and 70, most of them men.
The incident follows Myanmar’s continued struggle after the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and brought the country into martial rule.
The military has denied targeting civilians and said it only strikes legitimate targets, but the strike on a public religious site has raised concerns.
Local residents and fighters have called for an immediate investigation and accountability, while international observers warn of escalating violence in the region.
