At least eight civilians, including a four-year-old child, were killed and 19 others injured after Myanmar military aircraft carried out a series of airstrikes across multiple towns in Arakan State, according to a statement released by the Arakan Army Info Desk.
The attacks began around 3:00 p.m. on June 17, when four fighter jets reportedly conducted two waves of airstrikes on Kyauktaw Town and nearby Let Ma Daw Village. The strikes lasted nearly an hour and targeted residential neighborhoods and a local roadside market.
In the first wave, two fighter jets allegedly struck five civilian-populated locations in Kyauktaw, including Paik Thei Ward, Ywar Ma Ward, and KT-3 Road, using 13 rockets and three 500-pound bombs.
In a second wave, two additional jets reportedly bombed a market area near Let Ma Daw Village, dropping four 500-pound bombs, one 300-pound bomb, and two rockets.
The attacks destroyed or damaged around 30 homes and shops, while rescue operations continued amid fears that the death toll could rise.
Separately, on June 14, an airstrike on a monastery and school in Kyauk Chon Village in Gwa Township injured one civilian and damaged multiple buildings. One cow was killed and another injured in the same incident.
On June 15, further airstrikes on Yamma Island Village in Kyintali Town reportedly killed two civilians, injured four others, and damaged several homes.
Additional incidents were also reported earlier in the month. On June 4, two suicide drones struck an area near an oil extraction site in Ramree Township, killing two cattle. On June 6, a Y-12 aircraft bombed villages in Kyaukphyu Township, destroying a monastery and homes and killing three cattle.
On June 7, civilians traveling along the Than Zit River in Kyaukphyu Township were reportedly fired upon by machine guns from military vessels, causing multiple injuries. Later the same day, a motorboat traveling from Minbya to Ramree was intercepted, and 14 passengers, including traders and workers, were allegedly detained.
The Arakan Army accused the Myanmar military of deliberately targeting civilian-populated areas across the region amid ongoing conflict. Independent verification of the reported casualties and incidents was not immediately possible.
Photo: AA Info Desk
