A recent airstrike by Myanmar’s military junta targeted a commercial area near a major wholesale market in western Rakhine State, resulting in at least 49 fatalities and 58 injuries.
The strike hit Kyauktaw township, located about 210 miles (340 kilometers) west of Mandalay, which is currently controlled by the Arakan Army, a prominent ethnic armed group.
Midday Market Attack
According to reports from the Arakan Army and local rescue teams, a military fighter jet flew low over Kyauktaw around noon and dropped two high-explosive bombs near the central market.
Civilian Impact
The explosions occurred during peak shopping hours, claiming the lives of vendors, shoppers, and pedestrians. Local health officials confirmed that 22 of the 58 injured are in critical condition.
Property Damage
The bombing caused significant damage to nearby shops, vehicles, and street stalls, igniting fires throughout the market area.
Promise of Retaliation
The Arakan Army condemned the attack as a targeted assault on civilians, vowing to take effective action against military leaders responsible for these airstrikes on non-combatant areas.
Escalating Airstrikes in Rebel Areas
This incident in Kyauktaw is part of a broader trend of increasing aerial attacks in areas controlled by opposition forces. Following losses in 14 of Rakhine State’s 17 townships to the Arakan Army, military forces have increasingly relied on long-range artillery and fighter jets to target urban centers and public infrastructure.
Humanitarian groups and international observers have warned that attacking public spaces such as markets, hospitals, and schools—violates international humanitarian law and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in western Myanmar.