An airstrike conducted by Myanmar’s military near a busy market in western Rakhine state killed at least 49 people and injured 58 others on Monday. The deadly attack struck Kyauktaw township in territory controlled by the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic armed group fighting for regional autonomy.
According to reports from the Arakan Army and local rescue officials, a military fighter jet dropped two 500-pound bombs near the Kachapannadi Bridge and India Market around noon. The sudden strike hit a crowded commercial zone packed with midday vendors, shoppers, and pedestrians, causing severe structural damage and triggering intense fires.
High Casualties and Rescue Operations
Wai Hun Aung, a senior rescue official and writer in Rakhine, confirmed the casualty figures. Rescue workers recovered 49 bodies from the rubble, with 31 victims remaining unidentified initially. Among the 58 wounded individuals, at least 22 sustained critical injuries.
"This is one of the most severe airstrikes in Rakhine," said Wai Hun Aung, noting that the India Market serves as the region’s primary wholesale and retail distribution center, drawing traders from across the state.
Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft dropped the ordnance without warning, hitting an area far removed from active frontlines. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed raging fires, burned vehicles, cracked bridge infrastructure, and destroyed storefronts, including a dried rice-noodle factory.
Escalating Conflict in Rakhine State
The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, strongly condemned the bombing, labeling it a deliberate war crime intended to terrorize the civilian population. Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesperson for the group, warned that the Arakan Army "will take effective retaliatory measures soon against the individuals and organizations directly responsible."
Myanmar has faced nationwide conflict since the military junta overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. Following the suppression of peaceful protests, armed opposition groups and ethnic organizations gained significant territory. The Arakan Army launched a major offensive in November 2023, capturing a regional military headquarters and taking control of 14 out of Rakhine’s 17 townships.
Context of Airstrikes and Humanitarian Crisis
The military junta maintains that its air operations target military positions rather than civilians, while accusing resistance factions of terrorism. However, international observers and local monitors note an increase in aerial bombardments targeting population centers as the military faces battlefield setbacks.
Monday’s attack follows a series of violent incidents in the region. In December, a military airstrike on a hospital in Mrauk-U township killed at least 34 people and wounded 80 others. Humanitarian organizations report that ongoing trade restrictions imposed by the military, combined with infrastructure destruction like the damage to the Kyauktaw wholesale market, are worsening food shortages and economic distress for civilians across Rakhine State.
