Myanmar military airstrike kills 14 at Buddhist monastery: reports

A military airstrike in Myanmar's central Sagaing region killed at least 14 people at a Buddhist monastery, according to an opposition group and local witnesses. The attack occurred Friday, targeting Swel Le Oh village in Myaung township, roughly 75 kilometers west of Mandalay. Nway Oo, a spokesman for the anti-government resistance group CDSOM, reported that three women were among the deceased, and 20 others sustained injuries.

A villager who confirmed the death toll stated that a military jet dropped two bombs 15 minutes apart, with the second strike damaging a nearby house. Over 100 individuals were participating in a Buddhist Lent meditation retreat at the time of the strike. A pro-democracy rebel, Nway Oo Myaung, confirmed the attack was intentional, stating, "It wasn't a mistaken target; they intentionally attacked a monastery."

The military government has yet to confirm the incident. The UN has observed a rise in aerial attacks on civilians in recent years, accusing the regime of indiscriminate and intentional assaults. Myanmar's foreign ministry dismissed the UN report, attributing its actions to counterinsurgency efforts and maintaining a policy of maximum restraint.