Military airstrike in Mogok claims the lives of 21 people in Myanmar

• The airstrike in Mogok claimed the lives of at least 21 people.
• Among the dead were a pregnant woman and 16 women.
• The conflict has been ongoing since 2021 after the military coup.

On Thursday, September 15, at 20:30, a military airstrike in the Mogok area of the Shwegu district killed at least 21 people, including a pregnant woman. This was reported by an armed opposition group, local residents, and online news outlet Myanmar.

This incident marks yet another in a series of deadly airstrikes carried out by the military in an attempt to regain territory in the conflict that has been ongoing since July 2021, when the army seized power. Mogok, known as a center for gemstone production, was captured by the armed group Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in July 2024.

According to reports, 16 of the deceased women were victims of the airstrike, which, according to witnesses, targeted a building of a Buddhist monastery. Additionally, 15 buildings were also damaged. Two residents of Mogok, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that the death toll could reach 30 people.

The military did not comment on this incident. Earlier, the army stated that it conducts strikes for lawful purposes, accusing opposition forces of terrorism.

Since the moment of the power seizure, Myanmar has been experiencing significant turmoil. Many opponents of the military regime have taken up arms, and in the country, an armed conflict over autonomy continues.

In the first two decades of September, the TNLA reported another 17 dead, including two Buddhist monks, as a result of airstrikes in controlled new areas. Also, last Monday, 16 people were killed as a result of an airstrike on a convoy in central Myanmar.

According to the opinion of opposition groups, the army controls less of the country's territory, but maintains control over central regions, including the capital Naypyidaw. The military has intensified operations in the lead-up to elections, which are expected to take place this year.

Tags: Politics