The death toll from a Myanmar military airstrike in Rakhine State has risen to 50 after rescuers recovered additional bodies from the site of the attack in Kyauktaw.
The strike occurred on Monday in an area controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group fighting Myanmar’s military. At least 58 people were also reported injured, with women and children among those killed.
The attack reportedly struck a densely populated area near a market, with the Arakan Army accusing the military of deliberately targeting civilians, residential buildings, schools and markets. The military has previously said it exercises restraint to avoid civilian casualties.
The latest casualties add to the devastating toll of Myanmar’s civil war, which has continued since the military seized power in 2021. Fighting between the military and armed resistance groups has spread across large parts of the country, creating a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The Kyauktaw strike is among the deadliest air attacks recorded in Rakhine State in recent months and has intensified concerns over the protection of civilians caught in the conflict.
The rising death toll is also likely to increase pressure on regional and international actors to address the worsening humanitarian situation and civilian protection concerns in Myanmar.
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