The Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC) has reported that 32 civilians were killed and 5 others were injured in a military airstrike in the Mawchi area of Hpruso Township, Karenni State. The attack, which occurred on August 17, marks the 11th aerial bombardment in the Mawchi region alone during 2025. Several local residents remain missing following the attack. The IEC has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased civilians and declared its commitment to working alongside the people and revolutionary forces to respond to the illegal military junta’s brutal attacks on innocent civilians.
The IEC has called upon the United Nations, ASEAN, and the international community to take effective action against the military’s war crimes. The ongoing military attacks in the Mawchi region have forced the suspension of mining operations, with most migrant workers evacuating the area. Workers from various regions including Kyaukpadaung, Bago, Taungoo, and upper Myanmar have departed by various vehicles, with some crossing into Thailand, according to local sources.
The region has witnessed multiple deadly airstrikes throughout the year. On July 14, an airstrike targeting a group of internet users in the Sat Sa quarter of Mawchi town killed seven people, including a shop owner and a child, while injuring approximately twenty others. On July 9, an attack on Loilawthy village using two 200-pound bombs resulted in six civilian deaths and extensive damage to homes. Another airstrike on June 25 targeted Mountain Village during a period with no active fighting, resulting in seven deaths and numerous injuries among civilians.
The military’s continuous aerial bombardment campaign has severely disrupted daily life in the Mawchi region, forcing local businesses to close and causing widespread displacement of the population. The IEC has emphasized that these attacks constitute serious war crimes and has urged the international community to take concrete steps to hold the military accountable for its actions. The situation continues to deteriorate as the military intensifies its campaign of violence against civilian populations, leading to increasing casualties and displacement in the region.
