Junta conducts over 2,000 airstrikes in four months: research group

By Admin 22 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 May 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime carried out 409 airstrikes in 187 incidents over the four months from January 1 to April 30 in Arakan State, Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica reported on Tuesday. The junta conducted 2,567 airstrikes in 819 incidents across Myanmar during that period, and  Arakan State suffered the most with 409 strikes.

“During 121 days spanning from January 2024 to April 2024, the military council carried out a total of 819 incidents of airstrikes, averaging at least six incidents per day,” reads the report.

The regime carried out 187 documented airstrike incidents in Arakan State, followed by 119 in Sagaing Region, 92 in Kachin State, 91 in Kayin (Karen) State, 80 in northern Shan State, 69 in southern Shan State, 59 in Chin State, 29 in Bago Region, 26 in Karenni (Kayah) State, 24 in Tanintharyi Region, 17 each in Mon State and Magwe Region, and nine in Mandalay Region.

“As the junta’s army is incapable, the regime is targeting civilians with air and artillery strikes. It is a tactic to fight the enemy by holding civilians hostage,” said political and military analyst U Pe Than.

A total of 359 civilians were killed and 756 others injured in junta airstrikes during that period, according to Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, which said at least 50 religious buildings, 38 schools and 11 healthcare facilities were damaged. Numerous houses, vehicles, cattle and farms were also damaged by airstrikes, it added.

The regime is conducting air and artillery strikes on towns and villages in Arakan State where its forces and the AA are engaged in fierce fighting.

A monk and eight internally displaced people (IDPs) were injured by a junta airstrike in Kaung Laung Village, Minbya Township, on Wednesday. Over 10 civilians were also killed or injured in junta airstrikes on Shwe Baho, Bawdikone and Ngwe Taung villages in Maungdaw Township on Tuesday.

“Aircraft are flying every day, and the regime attacks at any time. So, we can’t sleep well at night,” said a woman from Arakan State.