BANGKOK — Myanmar’s military airstrike on Kyauk Ni Maw village, controlled by the Arakan Army in western Rakhine state, killed at least 41 people and injured 50 others, local officials and a charity group reported Thursday.
The attack, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, triggered a fire that ravaged the village, burning more than 500 homes. The military has not commented on the strike, and access to the area remains restricted due to severed internet and cellphone services.
Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, confirmed that all the victims were civilians, including women and children. The reason behind the targeting of the village remains unclear.
Rakhine state, where the attack occurred, has seen rising tensions since the military coup in 2021, as armed ethnic groups like the Arakan Army continue to fight for greater autonomy. The Arakan Army has made significant territorial gains, controlling 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships and pushing the military back to strategic locations.
The charity leader helping the village said that the casualties were concentrated around the market area. With a shortage of medical supplies, the injured are facing growing challenges in receiving proper care.
Rakhine, formerly known as Arakan, was the location of a ruthless military counterinsurgency operation in 2017, forcing approximately 740,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee across the border into Bangladesh for safety.
