Myanmar Monastery Air Strike Kills 14 Elderly Civilians

Fourteen elderly civilians were killed in an aerial attack by the Myanmar military on a monastery in the Sagaing region early Friday morning, according to opposition fighters and a local rescue worker.

The victims, all elderly, were reportedly attending a meditation program at the time of the assault. The monastery in Myaung township was struck twice around 9 AM local time. Several monks were also injured in the attack, which occurred approximately 70 kilometers west of Mandalay.

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The elderly people had entered the meditation center.

Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy fighter, told AFP that the victims included 11 men and three women, aged between 50 and 70. Five victims were from one village, while nine were from the surrounding township. "The elderly people had entered the meditation center," he said.

Another opposition fighter, who requested anonymity, recounted assisting in the search for survivors after the first strike. "When we were trying to rescue people, the plane came to carry out a second bombing attack," the fighter said. The Myanmar military has frequently been accused of attacking civilian infrastructure but maintains it only targets legitimate objectives.

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When we were trying to rescue people, the plane came to carry out a second bombing attack.