Deadly Myanmar Military Airstrike Kills 49 Near Market in Rakhine State

At least 49 people died and 58 others sustained injuries when a Myanmar military fighter jet dropped two bombs near a bustling market in Rakhine state.

Attack Details

The strike hit Kyauktaw township, located roughly 340 kilometres west of Mandalay, at approximately noon on Monday. This territory is held by the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic armed group fighting the central government. The targeted market serves as the primary wholesale trading hub for the region, drawing shoppers, vendors, and people simply passing by. According to the Arakan Army and local rescue officials, 22 of the injured victims remain in critical condition, while online media footage revealed severe damage including burning structures, ruined vehicles, and a partially wrecked bridge. The Arakan Army stated it will take effective retaliatory measures soon, whereas the military did not offer an immediate comment.

Conflict Background

Myanmar has faced severe political turmoil since the military removed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. Following a violent crackdown on peaceful protests, many citizens took up arms to form resistance movements. The Arakan Army launched an aggressive offensive in November 2023, capturing 14 out of the state's 17 townships and a regional military headquarters. In response, the military has restricted trade routes and launched frequent airstrikes against ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces, including a December strike on a hospital in Mrauk-U township that killed 34 people.

Context

Military airstrikes have increasingly become a primary tactic for Myanmar's ruling junta as they struggle to regain ground against heavily entrenched ethnic armies and resistance forces controlling vast rural territories. International monitors note that densely populated civilian areas near markets and hospitals frequently bear the brunt of these aerial campaigns. Humanitarian conditions across conflict-affected regions continue to worsen due to strict trade blockades imposed by the central government.