Fourteen killed in strike on Myanmar monastery

Fourteen people, all elderly, were killed in military air strikes on a monastery in Myanmar on Friday morning, according to opposition fighters and a local rescue worker. The victims, reported by BBC Burmese, were struck twice in Myaung township, located in the central Sagaing region, approximately 70km west of Mandalay. Civilians had gathered for a Buddhist Lent meditation retreat when the attack occurred at around 09:00 local time.

Myanmar’s military has yet to comment on the incident. Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy activist, stated that the dead included 11 men and three women, with five from one village and nine from a neighboring township. The deceased ranged in age from 50 to 70. Another unidentified opposition fighter, who was assisting in the search for survivors, recounted that the aircraft returned to strike the site a second time while they were attempting to rescue people.

Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war since a military coup in 2021, during which the military has been accused of striking public buildings. The military has previously claimed that it targets only legitimate targets.