Kyauktaw town in Rakhine state, Myanmar, was the scene of a devastating airstrike on Monday that left 50 dead and wounded at least 58, according to the Arakan Army, the rebel group that controls much of the area, and local aid worker Wai Hun Aung.
Casualties include women and children
Photos shared on social media by Wai Hun Aung show bodies recovered on Tuesday, confirming that women and children were among those killed. The Arakan Army spokesperson Khine Thu Kha condemned the attack, saying the military “deliberately targeted densely populated markets, schools, civilians, and residential buildings through airstrikes.”
Military response and broader conflict
A spokesperson for Myanmar’s government declined to comment when approached for a statement. The military has previously asserted that it “exercises maximum restraint to avoid civilian harm,” a claim that stands in stark contrast to the Arakan Army’s allegations.
Myanmar has been engulfed in a nationwide civil war since the February 2021 coup that ousted the elected government. An alliance of armed groups, including the Arakan Army, continues to fight the military junta, a conflict that has already claimed around 100,000 lives and displaced more than 3.5 million people across the country.
Retaliation promised
Khine Thu Kha warned that the Arakan Army will employ all available means to retaliate against the military and anyone involved in the bombing of civilians. The Kyauktaw strike is the deadliest attack in Rakhine since a December hospital bombing that killed at least 30 people.
Humanitarian impact
The ongoing violence has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Myanmar’s impoverished southeast region. Aid organizations struggle to deliver assistance amid constant insecurity, and the recent surge in civilian casualties underscores the urgent need for protection of non‑combatants.
International observers have repeatedly called for an end to the violence and for all parties to respect international humanitarian law. As the conflict drags on, the civilian population of Rakhine remains caught in the crossfire, facing loss of life, displacement, and the erosion of basic services.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
