Myanmar military airstrike kills 14 at Buddhist monastery: reports

Military airstrike in Myanmar's central Sagaing region kills at least 14 people, including three women, at a Buddhist monastery, say opposition sources. Friday's attack by the ruling military regime is the latest in a series of deadly assaults on pro-democracy forces during the country's ongoing civil war. The strike occurred in Swel Le Oh village, Myaung township, about 45 miles west of Mandalay, the second largest city.

Nway Oo, a spokesman for the anti-government resistance group, confirmed three fatalities and 20 wounded. A villager who witnessed the incident said a military jet dropped two bombs, 15 minutes apart, with the second one damaging a nearby house. Over 100 people were participating in a weeklong meditation retreat to mark Buddhist Lent at the time of the attack.

The military government has not yet confirmed the strike, but has a history of using airstrikes against opposition forces in the region. UN investigators have documented a surge in aerial attacks targeting civilians in recent years, while the Myanmar foreign ministry maintains the military's operations are in response to insurgents and terrorist groups.