According to a statement from an official of Battalion 3 in Minbu District, more than 50 houses were destroyed when the military council forces conducted an aerial bombardment with incendiary bombs on Lonsone village in Saetottara Township, Magway Region. The attack occurred around 7 PM on April 24, and was reportedly carried out without any ongoing battles or military activities, indicating a deliberate targeting of the village.
While there were no civilian casualties or injuries reported from the attack, numerous homes were destroyed by fire, leaving local residents in urgent need of shelter and food supplies. According to the Battalion 3 official, the military council forces conducted this attack with the intention of intimidating civilians and targeting People’s Defense Force (PDF) members, as the military council forces have been facing military pressure in the region. The official stated that the military council forces are threatening to burn villages if they suspect the presence of PDF members, using such tactics to terrorize the civilian population.
The deliberate targeting of civilian homes and infrastructure constitutes a war crime and violates international humanitarian law, as noted by human rights observers. Emergency assistance is currently needed for the affected residents who have lost their homes, and humanitarian aid efforts are being coordinated to provide support to the displaced villagers. The military council’s practice of using aerial attacks against civilian targets represents an escalation in their campaign of violence against their own people, demonstrating a pattern of using disproportionate force and collective punishment against civilian populations in areas where resistance forces are active.
