At least 23 people seeking refuge at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar’s Sagaing region were killed in an air strike.
The attack, which occurred overnight in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing township, also left about 30 injured, with 10 in critical condition, according to a member of a local resistance group.
The resistance member told The Associated Press that 23 civilians, including four children, died after a jet fighter bombed the monastery building around 1 a.m. Over 150 people from nearby villages were sheltering there to escape the ongoing fighting.
Myanmar’s independent Democratic Voice of Burma reported the death toll could be as high as 30.
The military has yet to comment on the incident at the monastery, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Mandalay. In the past, they have maintained that they only target legitimate military objectives and accuse resistance forces of terrorism.
Myanmar has been in a state of unrest since the military coup in February 2021, when Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government was overthrown, leading to a civil war.
Following the violent suppression of peaceful protests, many opponents of military rule took up arms, resulting in widespread conflict across the country.
The military has increasingly relied on air strikes to combat opposition forces, particularly the People’s Defence Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance currently lacks effective defense against these air attacks.
This monastery attack follows an offensive weeks prior, involving hundreds of soldiers with tanks and aircraft, conducted within three miles of Lin Ta Lu to reclaim territory held by resistance groups.
According to the resistance fighter, the fighting displaced thousands of people from nearby villages, forcing them to seek refuge in other towns and villages, including Lin Ta Lu.
Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition’s National Unity Government, told the AP that the military regime is attempting to regain control of resistance-held areas ahead of planned general elections later this year.
The upcoming poll is widely considered a maneuver to legitimize the military’s power grab and ensure continued control through a favorable outcome.
