Myanmar airstrike on monastery kills 14

An airstrike by Myanmar's military on a monastery claimed the lives of 14 people, two rebels have confirmed. The strike occurred on a Friday morning at a monastery in Myaung township, Sagaing region, where civilians had gathered for a meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent. Eleven men and three women were killed, with the victims' ages ranging between 50 and 70, according to Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy rebel who assisted in clearing the bodies.

The attackers intentionally targeted the monastery, according to the rebels. A second local opposition fighter reported that five victims were from their village, while the remaining nine were from nearby areas. As they attempted to rescue survivors, the aircraft returned for a second attack.

Myanmar's military seized power in a coup in 2021, toppling the elected government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and imprisoning her. UN investigators recently released a report alleging that the military had conducted indiscriminate and intentional aerial assaults on civilians.