At least 14 people, including three women, were killed and 20 others injured in an airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar’s central Sagaing Region, according to a local opposition group and a resident.
The attack took place on Friday in the village of Sway Le Wah in Myaung Township, about 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.
Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Myaung Township Civilian Defense and Security Organization (CDSOM), said a military aircraft dropped bombs on the grounds of a Buddhist monastery, killing 14 people at the scene and injuring at least 20 others.
A local resident told The Associated Press that the aircraft dropped two bombs on the village about 15 minutes apart. More than 100 people were reportedly gathered at the monastery and in the surrounding area at the time for Buddhist religious observances marking the rainy-season retreat.
The resident confirmed the death toll reported by CDSOM and said his mother-in-law was among those killed. Local sources said the large gathering for religious ceremonies contributed to the high number of casualties.
The BBC’s Burmese service and several local media outlets also reported that between 10 and 14 people were killed in the airstrike. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Myanmar’s military did not immediately comment on the incident. The military has repeatedly said it targets only legitimate military objectives and takes precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
Myanmar has been embroiled in a prolonged civil war since the military seized power from the elected government in February 2021. Following a violent crackdown on peaceful protests, numerous opposition groups took up armed resistance, and the military government is now fighting a range of ethnic and political armed organizations across the country.
Myaung Township is located in Sagaing Region, a stronghold of armed resistance against the military government. Local sources say the area has been subjected to frequent military operations and airstrikes.
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), a United Nations-backed investigative body, reported this month that airstrikes increased significantly in December and January as the military prepared for elections. The organization said military air operations have continued since then.
Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry rejected the IIMM report, saying it was based on statements from “terrorists” and insisting that the country’s security forces exercise maximum restraint to avoid civilian casualties.
The prolonged conflict has already caused widespread deaths and displacement across Myanmar. According to the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and around 5.2 million displaced since the conflict escalated.
The latest airstrike on a Buddhist monastery has renewed concerns over the safety of civilians and the protection of religious sites amid Myanmar’s continuing conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera