Junta airstrike kills five civilians, injures nine in AA-controlled Mrauk-U

By Admin 21 Mar 2024

DMG Newsroom
21 March 2024, Mrauk-U

A junta airstrike on Ahtet Layhnyitaung Village in the Laymyochaung area, part of Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township, killed five people including four children and injured nine others at around 8 a.m. on March 21.

The deceased have been identified as Maung Thar Htoo, 3, Maung Lin Myat Ko, 5, Ma Ei Khaing Mon, 9, Ma Khin Thandar, 13, and Daw Ma Thein Yin, 35.

The injured range in age from 4 to 68 years old. 

“A junta jet fighter dropped bombs on the village in the morning. Children were killed while they were playing in the village,” said a resident of Ahtet Layhnyitaung Village.

The regime, which suffered heavy casualties militarily in Arakan State, uses airstrikes to target civilian areas including towns and villages, with civilians being harmed and killed on a daily basis.

A total of 22 Muslims were killed and 29 injured in a junta bombing raid on Thardar Village in Arakan State’s Minbya Township on March 18. 

“The military regime is committing absolute war crimes and inhumane acts against civilians,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State. 

Civilian casualties continue to rise in Arakan State, inflicted primarily by regime air and artillery strikes and drone attacks since renewed fighting broke out on November 13.

As of February 18, 2024, 111 civilians have been killed and 357 others were injured in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township due to the regime’s airstrikes and shellings, according to figures released by the Arakan Army.