On April 13, the morning of pre-Thingyan day, at approximately 9:30 AM, the military council conducted an aerial bombardment on residential areas in Kyauktaw town, Rakhine State. According to local residents, a military council fighter jet dropped two 500-pound bombs on the town’s residential quarters. The attack resulted in injuries to at least two civilians, including a child, and caused significant damage to numerous residential buildings in the area.
Local sources reported that the bombs exploded near the Golden Monastery in the vicinity of Road One and the village center area. Due to current internet and communication blackouts in the region, detailed casualty and damage assessments are still ongoing. However, preliminary reports indicate that there were no immediate fatalities from the attack. The communication restrictions have made it extremely difficult for residents to gather and share comprehensive information about the extent of the damage.
Prior to this incident, on April 11 morning, the military council had conducted another airstrike on West Yay village in Pauktaw Township, a predominantly Muslim community. During that attack, a fighter jet dropped two 500-pound bombs. Fortunately, the bombs landed outside the village perimeter, and no Muslim residents were killed or injured in the incident. This pattern of airstrikes demonstrates the military council’s continued use of aerial warfare despite their claims of maintaining a ceasefire in Rakhine State.
While the military council has publicly announced a ceasefire in Rakhine State, they continue to conduct regular airstrikes not only in Rakhine but throughout Myanmar. Revolutionary forces have stated that these military council airstrikes deliberately target not just military objectives but also civilian areas, including towns, villages, residential buildings, and public infrastructure. The attacks represent a concerning pattern of violence against civilian populations, with the military council consistently conducting aerial bombardments on non-military targets. These actions have been widely condemned by resistance forces who emphasize that such attacks constitute acts of terror against civilian populations who have no means of defending themselves against airstrikes.
