A devastating airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a village controlled by anti-coup fighters has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, according to a local administrative official. The attack, described as targeting civilian areas, underscores the escalating violence in the country since the 2021 coup that has plunged Myanmar into a deep civil conflict. Analysts indicate that the junta appears increasingly reliant on air strikes against civilian targets as part of its broader military strategy.
The strike occurred on a Friday afternoon in the village of Letpanhla, located approximately 60 kilometers (about 40 miles) north of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Letpanhla is occupied by the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), a group of guerrilla fighters who took up arms following the military coup that ousted the democratically elected government four years ago.
“A lot of people were killed because they dropped bombs on crowded areas,” said the anonymous local administrative official. He reported that the attack coincided with the busy time when villagers were heading to the market, indicating that civilian gatherings were particularly vulnerable. As of Saturday, his records indicated 12 confirmed deaths, although a local PDF unit claimed that the total casualties could be as high as 27.
Witness Myint Soe, aged 62, described the harrowing moments during the airstrike, stating that he sought refuge as the aircraft approached. “I heard huge bomb blast sounds at the same time I was hiding,” he recounted. When he emerged, he saw the market area engulfed in flames. The aftermath revealed significant destruction, with buildings, including homes and a restaurant, burning and civilians, as well as PDF fighters, trying to extinguish the flames. Tragically, images emerged of a child’s lifeless body with a head wound being loaded into an ambulance by a PDF member.
The situation in Myanmar has devolved into a chaotic landscape divided among junta forces, ethnic armed groups, and various anti-coup factions. According to data from the non-profit organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), the frequency of military air strikes targeting civilians has surged since the onset of the civil war, with reports indicating nearly 800 such strikes in 2024 alone. This figure contrasts sharply with the previous year’s data, more than tripling in reported incidents, prompting ACLED to forecast continued reliance on aerial offensives by the military.
The increasing use of air strikes reflects the junta’s desperate measures as it faces mounting military pressure on the ground. “The military will persevere in its indiscriminate aerial attacks on civilian populated areas in an effort to undermine the opposition’s support base and destroy their morale,” ACLED articulated in a statement from December.
The embattled junta has suffered considerable territorial losses in recent months, particularly in light of coordinated offensives by an alliance of armed ethnic groups. Despite these challenges, analysts assert that the Myanmar air force, bolstered by technical support from Russia, has played a crucial role in maintaining control against adversaries mainly located in the border regions.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with over 3.5 million people displaced and half of the population living in poverty, highlighting the ongoing crisis as the conflict persists unabated.
