Myanmar's military has launched airstrikes on camps for internally displaced people in Rakhine State, killing at least eight civilians and injuring several others, according to the Arakan Army (AA) ethnic rebel group.
The Arakan Army reported that a Y12 aircraft bombed a displacement shelter and a nearby village in AA-controlled Ponnagyun Township on Monday, killing one civilian and injuring two. This followed an attack on Sunday night on a separate displacement camp in the same township that killed six people and destroyed buildings, the AA said. The Ponnagyun Youth Association confirmed to Reuters that all those killed or injured were displaced civilians.
"Attacking these civilian targets with aircraft was a deliberative move," Wai Hun Aung, a Rakhine writer and aid worker, told The Irrawaddy, adding that the camps were located far from the active combat zone.
The airstrikes come as Myanmar's armed forces, facing territorial losses to the AA, have increasingly relied on air power to target civilian populations. The AA has controlled much of Rakhine State since late 2023 following Operation 1027, leaving the military with only a few precarious footholds, including the state capital Sittwe and several coastal areas. The attacks occurred a week after previous aerial strikes in the region.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The deliberate targeting of displacement camps far from active combat zones escalates the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are already displaced.
- The junta's increased reliance on air power to punish civilian populations signals a shift in military strategy as it loses ground to rebel forces.
- International condemnation may grow, but Myanmar's military has shown little regard for civilian casualties in previous campaigns.
Background
Myanmar has been in civil war since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021, triggering nationwide armed resistance. The Arakan Army, a Rakhine ethnic armed group, has been fighting the military for greater autonomy. In late 2023, the AA launched a coordinated offensive that captured large swaths of Rakhine State, drastically weakening junta control. The military, unable to hold territory, has turned to airstrikes against civilian areas, a pattern seen in other parts of the country.
Key Perspectives
Arakan Army and local groups: Condemn the airstrikes as deliberate attacks on civilians, calling for international intervention. The Ponnagyun Youth Association has confirmed the civilian nature of the targets.
Myanmar military: Has not commented publicly on the strikes; historically, it denies targeting civilians or blames rebel groups for using human shields, though no such claims have been reported here.
International community and aid organisations: Face limited access to conflict zones; the attacks may trigger renewed calls for UN Security Council action, though previous resolutions have had no effect.
What to Watch
- Whether further airstrikes occur in Rakhine or if the military expands its air campaign to other contested regions.
- International response, particularly from ASEAN and the UN, and whether any concrete measures are taken.
- Potential escalation if the AA retaliates with attacks on military positions in Sittwe or coastal areas.