A Myanmar military airstrike targeted a village market in the westernmost state of the country, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 individuals, as reported by two local sources recently. Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil conflict following a coup in 2021, leading to clashes between the military and various ethnic minority armed factions alongside pro-democracy fighters.
The Arakan Army, an armed opposition group, asserted that 17 “innocent civilians” lost their lives in the attack on Yoe Ngu village market in Rakhine state on Tuesday, while the civilian volunteer organization known as the Ponnagyun Youths Association (PYA) stated the death toll to be 18. Attempts to reach a Myanmar military spokesperson for comments were unsuccessful.
PYA chairman Pyae Phyo Naing, who surveyed the strike site following the incident, described a devastating scene with several buildings burnt and destroyed.