At least 13 civilians were killed and over 20 injured on Tuesday when a junta fighter jet bombed a village in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State.
Around 10am, a fighter jet dropped two bombs on Tun Yawai village, killing and injuring several people, including women and children, according to Arakan Army (AA) spokesman Khaing Thukha, confirmed the incident to The Irrawaddy.
“Twelve houses were completely destroyed. Thirteen bodies have been found, and more than 20 were injured. Other victims are feared still trapped beneath debris, so the number of casualties can increase,” he added.
The official said Tuesday's air raid was an unprovoked attack on a civilian neighborhood and that there hasn't been any fighting in Rathedaung since the town was taken over by the AA in March 2024, reports The Irrawaddy.
“Fighting stopped in Rathedaung a long time ago. The terrorist regime deliberately bombed innocent civilians in a place where there is no fighting. It’s a grave war crime, and the regime must be held accountable for this,” Khaing Thukha said.
Before the terrible earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, the AA had taken control of 14 of Rakhine's 17 townships and was moving on junta outposts that bordered Rakhine in the Magwe, Bago, and Ayeyarwady provinces.
Although the regime and the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the AA, have agreed to a truce till the end of May, the dictatorship has drastically increased its use of aircraft to kill hundreds of people in areas controlled by the rebels in just six weeks.
Since March 28, it has launched around 500 naval, artillery, and aviation attacks in Rakhine alone, the AA said.
