At least 23 civilians, including four children, were killed in a devastating airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a Buddhist monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing region, according to the Associated Press. The early morning attack on Friday targeted a building where over 150 displaced villagers were sheltering from ongoing conflict.
A local resistance group member reported that a military jet dropped a bomb around 1 am, hitting a structure within the monastery compound. About 30 others were injured, with 10 in critical condition. Independent media outlet Democratic Voice of Burma suggested the death toll could be as high as 30.
Located roughly 35 km from Mandalay, the monastery had become a refuge amid escalating clashes. The military has not issued an official response but typically defends such actions as targeting “terrorist” resistance forces.
Myanmar has been gripped by civil war since the February 2021 coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Following the brutal suppression of peaceful protests, armed resistance surged, especially in Sagaing—now a stronghold of anti-junta forces. The military has increasingly relied on airpower to regain territory, leaving civilian populations highly vulnerable.
The strike on Lin Ta Lu follows a major offensive involving tanks and aircraft nearby, displacing thousands. Many sought shelter in the monastery. Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the opposition National Unity Government, said the military aims to reclaim control ahead of a controversial general election seen as an attempt to legitimise its rule.