Airstrike Hits Myanmar Monastery, 23 Dead
More than 150 inside as bombs fell; country trapped in civil war since 2021….
Myanmar A devastating airstrike hit a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar, leaving at least 23 people dead and over 30 injured, in one of the most brutal incidents since the civil war began in 2021. The attack occurred in a conflict-ridden region where more than 150 civilians, including monks, had taken shelter.
Eyewitnesses describe scenes of horror and chaos, with bombs dropping suddenly and people screaming for help. The peaceful monastery, a spiritual sanctuary for many, was turned into rubble and bloodshed within minutes. Victims included not only religious figures but also local villagers—many of whom had sought refuge there to escape ongoing violence in surrounding areas.
Medical teams struggled to reach the scene due to ongoing clashes between the Myanmar military junta and resistance groups. Locals attempted to treat the wounded using basic first aid before some of them were evacuated to makeshift hospitals.
Human rights organizations across the globe have condemned the attack, calling it a war crime and urging the international community to hold Myanmar’s military accountable. “This was a deliberate assault on a place of worship and safety,” said a representative from Amnesty International.
Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil since a military coup in February 2021 overthrew the elected government. Since then, resistance groups, including ethnic militias and civilian defense forces, have been battling junta forces across the country. Civilians have increasingly borne the brunt of the violence, with monasteries, schools, and hospitals becoming unwilling targets.
This latest attack further deepens concerns about the junta’s use of air power against civilian populations, a strategy critics say is designed to instill fear and crush opposition. Satellite images confirmed significant damage to the monastery’s structure, with reports of bodies still buried under the debris.
UN officials have called for an immediate investigation, and global leaders are once again pressing for humanitarian intervention. Meanwhile, thousands in Myanmar continue to live under the constant threat of bombings, military raids, and ethnic violence.
As the international community watches in shock, the people of Myanmar continue to pay the price of a forgotten war, where even sacred spaces are no longer safe from destruction.