Over 20 civilians killed in Myanmar air strike on monastery: witnesses

Over 20 civilians killed in Myanmar air strike on monastery: witnesses
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More than 20 civilians, including three children, were killed in an air strike on a Buddhist monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing region, Myanmar, Arab News reported.

The attack occurred around 1:00 am on Friday, hitting the monastery hall where internally displaced people had sought refuge. The hall was completely destroyed, and two survivors remain in critical condition in hospital.

Sagaing region has been severely affected by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war since the military ousted the democratic government in 2021. The military junta has frequently targeted villages with air strikes aimed at armed groups, often causing civilian casualties. Despite a brief truce following a magnitude-7.7 earthquake in March that killed nearly 3,800 people, air strikes and fighting have continued.

In May, an air strike on a school in Sagaing killed 20 students and two teachers. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to requests for comment on the latest attack. The conflict continues to devastate the region’s civilian population.