Myanmar junta airstrike kills 14 in Rakhine State’s Thandwe Township

An airstrike by Myanmar's military junta has killed at least 14 civilians in Thandwe Township, located in the western state of Rakhine. The attack occurred amid escalating conflict in the region, where civilian targets have increasingly come under fire.

Sources indicate that the junta's forces are intensifying their aerial assaults on areas that have fallen under the control of the Arakan Army. This strategy appears to be a response to heavy casualties the regime has sustained in ground fighting against the ethnic armed group. The targeting of civilian areas raises serious concerns about the conduct of the war and the protection of non-combatants.

Rakhine State has been a focal point of renewed fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military since late 2023. The Arakan Army has made significant territorial gains, capturing numerous towns and military outposts, which has put pressure on the junta. The airstrike in Thandwe represents a dangerous escalation, highlighting the brutal nature of the ongoing conflict.