The Karen National Union (KNU) has issued an urgent warning to civilians following a series of military council airstrikes in KNU-controlled territories that resulted in civilian casualties. On April 19, around 11 AM, the military council conducted an airstrike on a monastery in Min Saw village, Bilin Township, Mon State, within KNU Brigade 1 territory. The attack killed two civilians and injured two novice monks.
On April 18 at 9 AM, the military council launched an unprovoked airstrike on Zayet Kone area of Yay Twin Kone village in Pein Za Lut town, Nyaunglebin Township, Bago Region. Additionally, Light Infantry Battalion 264, based in Pein Za Lut, fired heavy artillery into Zayet Kone village, resulting in the death of 42-year-old Ko Myo Thant, who was struck in the left chest by shrapnel.
Currently, intense fighting continues throughout Karen State, with the military council indiscriminately targeting civilian areas, including refugee camps and villages, with airstrikes and artillery fire. The KNU has warned that the military council is specifically targeting schools, monasteries, churches, and areas where internally displaced persons have sought refuge. These attacks demonstrate a pattern of deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and populations.
In response to these developments, the KNU has urged media outlets and local activists to exercise extreme caution when reporting news, particularly regarding civilian hideout locations, to prevent the military council from easily identifying and targeting these areas with airstrikes and heavy weapons. The KNU has also advised civilians to stay away from buildings that could be potential military targets and to avoid traveling through conflict zones unless absolutely necessary. These precautionary measures are aimed at minimizing civilian casualties as the military council continues its campaign of violence against the population in Karen State.
