(Naypyidaw, 14th) Armed ethnic minority group Arakan Army accused the government of carrying out airstrikes in western Rakhine State, resulting in 22 deaths, most of whom were students at local private boarding schools.
The Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement on social media Telegram on Saturday (September 13) saying that just after midnight on Friday, two private high schools in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, were struck in an air raid, resulting in 19 students aged between 15 and 21 being killed in their sleep, with another 22 injured. There were also reports of casualties around the schools.
The Arakan Army blamed the attack on the Myanmar military government, but the military government has not commented.
Anti-junta Myanmar online media outlet “The Irrawaddy” reported that the airstrike occurred at 1 a.m., with two 500-pound bombs hitting the schools and nearby areas in Kyauktaw Township.
The report quoted local residents as saying that there was no ground conflict in the area at the time.
Since January last year, the Arakan Army has controlled Kyauktaw Township. Pro-military government social media accounts claimed that the AA was training armed personnel in the area.
UNICEF issued a statement condemning this “brutal attack,” saying it has exacerbated the increasingly serious violence in Rakhine State, with children and civilians ultimately paying the price.
According to the Arakan Army, since January this year, airstrikes by the military government in Rakhine State’s Mrauk U, Ramree, Rathedaung, and Kyauktaw towns have killed at least 106 people.
Since the coup launched by the Myanmar military in 2021, there has been fierce fighting with the Arakan Army over control of Rakhine State, but the government forces have suffered successive defeats. Most parts of Rakhine State are now under AA control.
The Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement on social media Telegram on Saturday (September 13) saying that just after midnight on Friday, two private high schools in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, were struck in an air raid, resulting in 19 students aged between 15 and 21 being killed in their sleep, with another 22 injured. There were also reports of casualties around the schools.
The Arakan Army blamed the attack on the Myanmar military government, but the military government has not commented.
Anti-junta Myanmar online media outlet “The Irrawaddy” reported that the airstrike occurred at 1 a.m., with two 500-pound bombs hitting the schools and nearby areas in Kyauktaw Township.
The report quoted local residents as saying that there was no ground conflict in the area at the time.
Since January last year, the Arakan Army has controlled Kyauktaw Township. Pro-military government social media accounts claimed that the AA was training armed personnel in the area.
UNICEF issued a statement condemning this “brutal attack,” saying it has exacerbated the increasingly serious violence in Rakhine State, with children and civilians ultimately paying the price.
According to the Arakan Army, since January this year, airstrikes by the military government in Rakhine State’s Mrauk U, Ramree, Rathedaung, and Kyauktaw towns have killed at least 106 people.
Since the coup launched by the Myanmar military in 2021, there has been fierce fighting with the Arakan Army over control of Rakhine State, but the government forces have suffered successive defeats. Most parts of Rakhine State are now under AA control.