Myanmar military airstrike kills dozens in Rakhine state

An airstrike carried out by Myanmar's military on Monday resulted in significant casualties in Rakhine state, one of the country's most volatile regions. Local rebel groups controlling the area and humanitarian workers on the ground reported at least 33 deaths from the incident, which targeted a market area in the border region adjacent to Bangladesh.

Rakhine state has been engulfed in conflict for several years, with armed groups opposing Myanmar's military government operating across the territory. The region has seen repeated clashes resulting in civilian casualties and a significant displacement crisis.

Access to Rakhine remains severely restricted, making independent verification of casualty figures difficult. Humanitarian organisations working in the area have documented ongoing violence affecting vulnerable civilian populations, including Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities.

The airstrike underscores the deteriorating security situation in Myanmar since the military's 2021 coup, which triggered a broader armed conflict across the country. International observers have repeatedly called for investigations into alleged war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.