‘Myanmar Airstrike Kills Dozens at Detention Camp’
A Myanmar junta airstrike has killed at least 28 people, including nine children, and injured 25 others at a temporary detention camp in the western Rakhine state. The airstrike, which occurred on Saturday afternoon in Mrauk-U Township, targeted a facility where family members of Myanmar military soldiers were being held by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Myanmar military.
The AA, which controls substantial territory in Rakhine, reported that the military jet bombed the detention area around 4:45 pm local time. The detainees were captured during intense fighting between the AA and Myanmar’s armed forces, and they were reportedly being held by the AA as prisoners of war, including the family members of military personnel. In a post shared on its Telegram channel, the AA explained that the bombing occurred just as they were preparing to release the detainees.
Among the 28 individuals killed were several women and a two-year-old child, the AA reported. The other victims, mostly women, were also family members of soldiers. The attack has drawn international condemnation, although the Myanmar military has yet to comment publicly on the incident. Images from the aftermath shared by the AA show rows of bodies covered with white sheets in a grassy area, with several people nearby visibly grieving.
The Rakhine state has been a significant flashpoint of ethnic violence in Myanmar, especially following the 2021 military coup. The region has witnessed intense fighting between Myanmar’s military and several ethnic armed groups, including the AA. This escalation has contributed to a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and food insecurity. In November 2024, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned that the ongoing conflict was pushing Rakhine toward a potential famine, as violence has disrupted agriculture and trade.
The use of airstrikes on civilian areas has been a common tactic by the military junta, which is facing resistance not only from ethnic armed groups but also from youth-led “People’s Defence Forces” (PDF) across Myanmar. While the exact nature of the Mrauk-U airstrike remains unclear, some analysts speculate that the military may have been unaware of the nature of the target, or that it was a misdirected strike.
As Myanmar continues to descend into a brutal civil conflict, the international community remains concerned about the widespread violations of human rights and the increasing number of civilian casualties. The country’s crisis has already displaced over 3.5 million people, with more expected in the coming months.
In the context of this ongoing crisis, various ethnic groups continue to press for greater autonomy and recognition, while the junta clings to power with an increasingly desperate and violent response to resistance.
