The Karen National Union (KNU) Central has reported that two civilians were killed when the military council conducted an airstrike on Thablu Khoh Kee village in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, despite there being no active fighting in the area. The attack occurred around 11:30 AM on March 19, when a Yak-130 fighter jet from the Naypyidaw-based air force deliberately bombed the village.
The airstrike resulted in the immediate deaths of two male civilians – one aged 36 and another aged 30 – who were residents of Thablu Khoh Kee village. The attack also completely destroyed one residential house and a storage facility. The KNU Central emphasized that the military council forces are deliberately targeting non-military objectives, including civilian buildings, religious structures, hospitals, schools, and areas where innocent civilians reside.
Human rights observers note that such aerial attacks on civilian populations constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could be classified as war crimes. They point out that the military council forces are systematically targeting innocent civilians, and international community pressure is needed to stop such actions. The pattern of attacks demonstrates a deliberate strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure and populations, causing not only immediate casualties but also long-term disruption to civilian life in the affected areas.
