December 1, 2024

A military airstrike on Kyaukme, northern Shan State, has left at least 10 civilians dead and over 20 injured. The attack targeted the Ing Chin Taung ward, damaging more than nine homes and striking a monastery, local sources confirmed.

The airstrike occurred on November 30 at around 6:30 PM, with the military deploying a jet fighter to drop 500-pound bombs on the area. One of the bombs hit a monastery housing nuns, causing significant casualties and destruction.

“A bomb hit the monastery directly, and nearby houses were also affected. At least 10 people were killed, but we’re still searching under the debris. Over 20 people have been injured,” a Kyaukme local reported.

The wounded have been transported to hospitals for emergency treatment, while the deceased are being recovered and identified, according to a statement from the PSLF/TNLA. The attack occurred shortly after the TNLA had issued an official statement expressing its readiness to engage in dialogue to resolve ongoing military tensions.

Similar airstrikes were reported in Naung Cho Township earlier in November, where military air raids claimed 18 lives and injured 34 civilians.

This escalating use of airpower against civilian areas highlights the junta’s continued disregard for human life and international humanitarian law.

Photo: Aftermath of the airstrike in Kyaukme. (Credit: PSLF/TNLA)