On Friday, a fighter jet belonging to Myanmar’s military dropped a bomb on a Buddhist monastery in Swel Le Oh village, Myaung township, about 75 km west of Mandalay. The strike killed 14 people, including three women, and wounded 20 others, according to Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township (CDSOM).
Details of the attack
The monastery was hosting a week‑long meditation retreat for more than 100 participants during Buddhist Lent. A villager who asked to remain anonymous, fearing retaliation, told the Associated Press that the jet released two bombs fifteen minutes apart. The second bomb struck a house near the monastery, adding to the casualties.
The villager said his mother‑in‑law was among those killed. Survivors fled to a nearby community after the bodies were cremated on site.
Broader context
The strike follows a pattern of frequent aerial attacks by the Myanmar military targeting armed pro‑democracy forces and ethnic armed groups. While the army maintains that it only strikes legitimate military targets, civilian deaths have become common, and the resistance has little capacity to defend against air assaults.
In the months leading up to the December‑January elections, the U.N.‑established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported a notable escalation in military airstrikes, a trend that continued after the elections. Myanmar’s foreign ministry rejected the IIMM’s findings, insisting that its limited air operations are counter‑terrorism actions aimed at insurgents and that its forces exercise maximum restraint to avoid civilian harm.
Ongoing conflict
Myanmar has been in a state of civil war since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. After peaceful protests were violently suppressed, many opposition members took up arms, leading to widespread conflict across the country. The Sagaing region remains a stronghold of armed resistance, and the military’s increasing reliance on air power has intensified the humanitarian crisis.
Local residents and opposition groups continue to document civilian casualties, calling for greater international attention and accountability for the military’s actions.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
