A tragic incident occurred in Nwe Yin village, Pale Township, Sagaing Region, where civilians were killed in an airstrike conducted by the military council forces. On May 18, at 12:45 PM, the military council forces launched an aerial attack using fighter jets, targeting three areas of Nwe Yin village – the eastern, central, and western sections. The attack resulted in the immediate deaths of three people: Maung Phone Myint Thant, a sixth-grade student; Ma Kyet Zin Oo, a twelfth-grade student; and Daw Ma Ri. Additionally, Ma Thin Myat Thu later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, bringing the total death toll to four.
According to local residents, the airstrike was conducted without any ongoing conflict in the area. The attack was so severe that a two-year-old child had to undergo amputation of their arm, and four other injured persons required emergency medical treatment. Among the wounded, Maung Wai Yan Soe, Ma Swe Ma Win, Ma Phyu Phyu Lon, and a three-year-old child are in critical condition, while Ko Pho Htut and Ko Linn Sein are reported to be in stable condition, according to medical staff providing treatment.
This deliberate attack on a civilian village demonstrates another instance of the military council’s brutality. The deaths of students pursuing their education and innocent civilians particularly highlight the war crimes being committed by the military council. Local residents have been forced to abandon their homes and possessions to flee to safety, creating a humanitarian crisis in the region. The attack has caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and has left the community in fear, marking yet another tragic episode in the ongoing violence perpetrated by the military council against its own people.
