Two civilians were killed when the military council conducted an airstrike using a helicopter gunship on Kyoekun village in Budalin Township, Sagaing Region, according to local residents. The attack occurred on April 24th when two bombs were dropped on the village despite there being no active fighting in the area. The victims were identified as ordinary farmers, and another civilian was severely injured in the bombing.
Kyoekun village, which has over 400 households, is located in an area that frequently experiences military airstrikes. Helicopter gunships from the Northwest Military Command based in Monywa have been conducting daily attacks targeting villages in Kani, Budalin, Yinmabin, and Monywa townships. These deliberate attacks on civilian areas have severely disrupted daily life for local residents who now face constant threats to their safety and survival.
Human rights observers note that the military council’s airstrikes violate international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes against civilians. The military council regularly targets civilian areas in Sagaing Region under the pretext of suppressing People’s Defense Forces and revolutionary groups. These attacks have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and widespread destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, forcing many residents to flee their villages and seek refuge in safer locations. The military’s use of airpower against civilian targets represents an escalation of its campaign of violence against its own people in the aftermath of the 2021 coup.
