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Myanmar Airstrike on Monastery Kills 14

UN investigators say the attack fits a recent pattern of expanded military air operations against civilians.

Overview

  • The strike hit a monastery near Myaung on Friday, 21 August, killing 14 civilians who were gathered for a Buddhist meditation retreat.
  • Witnesses and a pro‑democracy fighter who helped recover the bodies said the victims were mostly elderly and ranged from about 50 to 70 years old.
  • Local fighters reported that an aircraft returned and carried out a second strike while rescuers were trying to help survivors.
  • AFP reporters were unable to reach the Myanmar military for comment, leaving attribution and intent based on on‑site witnesses and rebel accounts.
  • The incident echoes a recent UN report that documents a rise in junta air operations on populated areas and comes as independent monitors estimate more than 100,000 deaths since the 2021 coup.