BANGKOK — An airstrike conducted by Myanmar’s military on Wednesday targeted a village governed by an ethnic armed group, leading to the deaths of approximately 40 individuals and leaving at least 20 others wounded, according to representatives from the group and a local charity. During the air raid, hundreds of homes were consumed by a fire that erupted due to the bombing.
The incident took place in Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, a region controlled by the Arakan Army located in western Rakhine state. As of now, the military has not confirmed any attacks in this area. Access to communications such as the internet and mobile phone services remains limited, preventing independent verification of the situation on the ground.
Myanmar has descended into chaos since the military ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. In response to deadly crackdowns on peaceful protests, countless opponents of military rule have resorted to armed struggle, thrusting significant parts of the nation into ongoing conflict.
A spokesperson for the Arakan Army, Khaing Thukha, stated that a military jet targeted the village on Wednesday afternoon, causing the tragic loss of civilian lives, including women and children. He reported that a fire ignited by the airstrike devastated the village, culminating in the destruction of more than 500 homes.
The motives behind the attack on Kyauk Ni Maw village remain unclear. Additional reports from a local charity leader and independent media corroborated the airstrike and the resulting casualties.
Over the past three years, the military government has intensified airstrikes targeting both armed pro-democracy factions, collectively known as the People’s Defense Force, and various ethnic minority groups that have long been fighting for increased autonomy. These factions occasionally engage in coordinated operations against military forces.
Ramree is located about 340 kilometers (210 miles) northwest of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and was seized by the Arakan Army in March of the previous year. The Arakan Army operates as the military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, advocating for autonomy from Myanmar’s central government. It is part of a coalition of armed ethnic groups that have recently secured significant territory in northeastern Myanmar near the border with China.
The Arakan Army initiated its campaign in Rakhine in November 2023 and has since taken control of a crucial regional military headquarters and 14 of the 17 townships in Rakhine state. Currently, only the capital Sittwe and two additional important townships near Ramree remain under military control.
A leader of the charity organization, who has been providing aid to the village’s residents, reported that at least 41 people were killed and around 50 injured in the attack, which specifically targeted the local market. Citing security concerns, he requested anonymity but indicated that he received firsthand information from his team members present in the village, who are struggling to obtain medical supplies for the injured.
Local news outlets based in Rakhine, including Arakan Princess Media, have also reported on the airstrike, sharing images online of residents attempting to extinguish the flames engulfing their homes.
Rakhine, previously known as Arakan, has a history marked by violent military counterinsurgency operations, including a notable effort in 2017 that forced approximately 740,000 Rohingya Muslim minorities to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety.
