Myanmar military strike on Buddhist monastery kills 14, including three women

Myanmar’s military conducted an airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Sagaing region, resulting in the death of 14 individuals participating in a meditation retreat, according to both an opposition group and a local resident. This attack is part of a pattern of frequent and lethal aerial assaults aimed at anti-government insurgents and ethnic groups scattered throughout the nation.

Two weeks prior, a United Nations report disclosed that Myanmar's military has been increasingly utilizing budget-friendly aircraft, such as motorized paragliders and gyrocopters, in a surge of aerial attacks causing civilian casualties in their conflict with armed opposition groups. The UN-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) conducted a year-long investigation into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the military's and affiliated militias' actions.

The Myanmar military government has not yet responded to the UN probe. The military frequently claims it only targets legitimate war objectives, blaming the resistance groups for being terrorists. The monastery strike took place on Friday in Swel Le Oh village, located in Myaung township, approximately 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city.

Nway Oo, a spokesman for the Civil Defence and Security Organisation of Myaung Township, stated that 14 people, including three women, were killed, while 20 others sustained injuries when a jet fighter dropped a bomb at the monastery compound. A resident, speaking anonymously, also confirmed the death toll to the Associated Press.

The villager claimed that the jet fighter released two bombs 15 minutes apart; the second bomb damaged a house near the monastery, where over 100 people were gathered for a week-long retreat. The villager, whose mother-in-law perished in the air strike, recounted people fleeing to a nearby area after cremating the victims' bodies.

Burmese-language service of the BBC and Myanmar's media outlets, including Myanmar Now, reported a death toll ranging from 10 to 14, and shared photos and videos depicting the aftermath of the strike, showcasing bodies. SBS News' app and weekly newsletter offer the latest updates from Australia and worldwide.