Konflikte: Fast 50 Tote bei Luftangriff auf Markt in Myanmar

In Myanmar's western Rakhine state, a severe military airstrike on a market and bridge resulted in at least 49 deaths and nearly 60 injuries, according to eyewitness accounts and local media. The attack occurred on Monday afternoon in Kyauktaw city. A fighter jet allegedly targeted the India Market area and the nearby Kassapanadi Bridge, as reported by DVB TV and the Arakan Army, an ethnic rebel group fighting against the military for years.

Kyaw Moe, a 33-year-old resident of the city, confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the jet dropped bombs three times. The market is a crucial trading center for the region, which has been largely cut off from the rest of Myanmar due to the civil war and the military's restrictions on trade routes. The population relies on supply routes through neighboring countries, according to the source.

The Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic organization fighting for greater autonomy for Rakhine, controls Kyauktaw. The military initially did not comment on the attack. Human rights organizations have long accused the forces of deliberately targeting civilian sites not directly related to military operations, including schools, hospitals, markets, and residential areas.

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has been in a severe crisis, with the de facto removal of the elected Aung San Suu Kyi government triggering nationwide protests and an ongoing armed conflict. Since then, violence, economic decline, and resistance to the junta have characterized the country.