Myanmar has experienced significant unrest since the military overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021, leading to widespread public dissent. Following the violent suppression of peaceful protests, numerous opponents of the military regime resorted to armed resistance, resulting in extensive conflict across various regions of the country.
An airstrike conducted by Myanmar’s military on a village held by resistance forces has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 civilians and injuries to 30 others, as reported by an opposition group and local online media on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Friday at 3 p.m. in Let Pan Hla village, situated in Singu township, approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, according to a spokesperson for the Mandalay People’s Defense Force.
The military has not provided any statements regarding this event. Since the army’s ousting of the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in turmoil, prompting widespread public dissent. Following violent crackdowns on peaceful protests, many opponents of military rule have taken up arms, resulting in ongoing conflict throughout much of the nation.
The military government has intensified airstrikes against the armed pro-democracy People’s Defense Force and ethnic minority guerrilla groups that have long sought greater autonomy. These groups occasionally collaborate in operations against the military, yet the resistance forces lack any means to defend against aerial assaults.
Singu was captured by the Mandalay People’s Defence Force (MDY-PDF), which aligns with Myanmar’s primary opposition, in July of the previous year.
In a statement released on Saturday via its Telegram channel, the group reported that six children were among those killed in the airstrike, which targeted busy market stalls in Let Pan Hla village.
Osmond, the spokesperson for the group, informed The Associated Press that approximately 10 houses near the village market were destroyed by the bombs.
“This airstrike was not directed at a military target, but rather at the market area frequented by civilians,” Osmond stated in a message.
The situation in the village remains unverified due to limited access to the internet and cellphone services in the region.
Myanmar Now, an independent online media outlet, has reported that the airstrike targeting a tea shop close to the village market has resulted in 30 fatalities, with seven individuals in critical condition.
Additionally, a report released last month by Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, a research and advocacy organization based in Myanmar, indicated that since the military coup in 2021, there have been 2,224 civilian deaths and 3,466 injuries resulting from 4,157 airstrikes.
