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 men, aged 36 and 30, and destroyed one house and a warehouse.
According to the KNU’s statement, the military council deliberately targets non-military objectives including religious buildings, hospitals, schools, and civilian residential areas. The KNU emphasized that such aerial attacks on innocent civilians constitute violations of international law and war crimes, noting that the military council is systematically perpetrating acts of violence against civilian populations.
Thablu Khoh Kee village is a peaceful community in Karen State where residents had been living and working peacefully, with no active conflict in the area. However, the military council continues to launch offensive operations against civilians, with ongoing airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties and deaths, according to local sources. The military council’s aerial attacks have caused widespread fear among local residents, forcing many to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. The continuous targeting of civilian areas has created a humanitarian crisis in the region, with local communities living under constant threat of aerial bombardment.
