According to a statement from the Karen National Union (KNU) Central Committee, two civilians were injured and thousands were forced to flee after the military council conducted airstrikes on 10 villages in Shwegyin Township, Bago Region. On May 11 at 7:20 AM, the military council forces used fighter jets to launch attacks on Thaiktukone village and Winkyun village in Shawthe Township using 300-pound bombs. A total of 21 bombs were dropped, with two bombs hitting Thaiktukone village, 18 bombs striking Winkyun village, and one bomb landing in a nearby lake.
The attacks resulted in damage to five houses belonging to U Aye Soe, U Chit Soe, U Sein Nyunt, Ma Sanay, and Maung Htun Thein in Thaiktukone village, as well as destruction to a school building. Ko Than Win, age 39, was injured in the attack. On May 10 at around 10 AM, Infantry Battalion 440 based in Thuyayumin conducted a drone strike on Kwinseik village, resulting in injuries to Daw May Pye, age 54. On May 8, between 8:05 AM and 4 PM, the military conducted multiple airstrikes on areas including Nyaungchaytauk, Zalutgyi, Nyaungthaya, Winkan, and Laylanzay, dropping thirty 500-pound bombs in 16 separate attacks. Additionally, a Y-12 aircraft dropped approximately 140 more bombs during the assault.
As a result of these military council airstrikes, 383 households comprising 1,712 people from villages including Dunsarit, Shansuu, Khalaykhawla, Wawkay, Khalaylawsay, Santwinkon, Kwinseik, Thabyaychaung, Kwisaylaw, and Zalutgyi have been forced to flee to safer locations. These displaced civilians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The affected areas are near ongoing clashes between the military council forces and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) joint forces, with civilians facing significant losses and living in fear, according to the KNU Central Committee’s statement.
