On April 20, 2024, at approximately 3:09 PM, the military council forces conducted an unprovoked aerial attack on Kwon Seik village in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region. The attack resulted in the deaths of three civilians, including a pregnant woman and two 18-year-old women, while seven other civilians sustained injuries. This attack occurred without any ongoing conflict in the area, demonstrating a deliberate targeting of civilian populations.
According to local residents, the military council used what appeared to be a Scud fighter jet to launch four rockets into the village. The attack was entirely unprovoked, as there was no military engagement or fighting in the area at the time. The 28-year-old pregnant woman who lost her life in the attack perished along with her unborn child, highlighting the particularly tragic nature of this incident. The other two victims were young women, both only 18 years of age, whose lives were cut short by this indiscriminate attack.
This deliberate aerial assault on a civilian area without any military conflict constitutes a war crime by the military council forces and violates international humanitarian law. The targeting of civilians, particularly a pregnant woman and young women, demonstrates the brutal nature of the military council’s actions. Local sources indicate that such attacks have become a regular occurrence, showing a systematic pattern of targeting civilian populations. The incident has caused significant trauma in the community, with seven additional civilians suffering injuries of varying severity. This attack represents yet another example of the military council’s ongoing campaign of violence against its own citizens, particularly in regions where they face resistance to their rule.
