Myanmar military airstrike death toll rises to 50

A military airstrike in Kyauktaw town, Rakhine state, Myanmar, resulted in 50 deaths and 58 injuries on Monday, according to local aid workers. The attack targeted a busy market along a river trade route to India, which had become crucial for residents due to the ongoing civil war. The death toll initially reported around 30, but has since risen to 50, and 22 of the fatalities were in critical condition.

The Arakan Army, a local ethnic rebel force, stated the number of fatalities reached 49 with 58 more wounded. The market and adjacent bridge were bustling with trading activity before the bombardment, as the area had experienced extensive conflict following the 2021 military coup. Rakhine has endured some of the harshest conditions in the war, largely isolated from the rest of Myanmar, and the market's thriving trade route has been a lifeline for residents.

The Arakan Army controls most of Rakhine, with the military employing Russian and Chinese-made fighter jets, and accused of committing atrocities against civilians, including attacks on schools, monasteries, and religious festivals, which may constitute war crimes. Over half a million people have been displaced in Rakhine as a result of the conflict, and over 100,000 have died since the 2021 putsch unseated Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, according to conflict monitor ACLED.