Airstrike by Myanmar Junta Claims 28 Lives, Including Nine Children, in Rakhine State

A recent airstrike by Myanmar's junta has tragically taken the lives of 28 people at a temporary detention site in Mrauk-U Township, with the Arakan Army reporting that nine of those killed were children. The military jet launched its attack around 4:45 PM local time on Saturday, targeting the facility where family members of junta soldiers were being held. The Arakan Army, who is engaged in an ongoing conflict with the military, had detained these individuals during skirmishes.

The rebel group claimed that the strike resulted in the deaths and injuries of those who were family members of soldiers in the Myanmar Army. They revealed plans for the detainees' potential release were underway before the bombing occurred. The military government has consistently rejected allegations of attacking civilians, but the consequences of the airstrike included severe casualties, with a total of 25 additional injuries reported.

The victims included a two-year-old boy and several women, highlighting the tragic impact of the violence that has escalated in Myanmar since the military coup on February 1, 2021. This coup sparked widespread armed rebellion and resistance against the military, leading to significant displacement across the nation with millions affected.

The United Nations has issued warnings about the dire situation in Rakhine state, which is nearing famine as a result of the ongoing conflict. In a preceding incident just a week before this airstrike, another attack by the military killed at least 40 civilians, including children, in a village controlled by the Arakan Army, which led to massive destruction in the area.