Myanmar Monastery Airstrike: Myanmar Buddhist Monastery Airstrike Kills 14 During Meditation
An airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in central Myanmar killed 14 people during a weeklong meditation retreat, while local reports said around 20 others were injured.
Myanmar Monastery Airstrike: A Buddhist meditation centre in central Myanmar was hit by an airstrike on Friday morning, leaving at least 14 people dead and around 20 others injured, according to local sources.
The attack reportedly took place at about 9 am in Swe Le Ooh village in Sagaing Region’s Mying Township, around 75 kilometres west of Mandalay. The area has been affected by continuing clashes between the military and armed groups opposed to the government.
According to Nway Oo, a representative of the Mying Township Civil Defense and Security Organization, a military aircraft dropped a bomb inside the meditation centre compound. Three women were among those killed in the attack.
Local residents who spoke to international media said two bombs were dropped within roughly 15 minutes. The second explosion reportedly struck a house near the monastery, where more than 100 people had gathered for a weeklong meditation programme during the Buddhist Lent period.
The victims were taking part in the retreat when the attack occurred, according to people familiar with the incident. After the bodies were recovered and buried, some residents reportedly left the village and moved to a nearby area for safety.
The opposition group accused Myanmar’s military of carrying out the strike, although the circumstances surrounding the attack could not be independently verified. The incident comes amid continued air operations in areas where pro-democracy armed groups and other resistance forces are active.
Airstrikes have become a recurring feature of Myanmar’s prolonged conflict, with civilian communities frequently caught in the fighting. The latest incident has again raised concerns over the safety of people living in conflict affected regions, including those seeking refuge or participating in religious activities.
