In Myanmar, a deadly toll unfolded in the Sagaing region, where at least 16 people, including five children, lost their lives in a brutal bombing campaign by the military’s air force. Local outlets in the western border area with India reported the incident on Monday, underscoring the severity of the strike near a town center that has long felt the impact of ongoing conflict.
Early Sunday, a series of air strikes lit up the morning sky as warplanes dropped a substantial number of bombs in the town. The blasts occurred close to a secondary school and a church, according to PVTV, a news agency aligned with the parallel government that governs in opposition to the military regime, as well as other local media sources. Residents described windows shattering, embers rising from roofs, and a cloud of dust that lingered over the streets, complicating rescue efforts and access for emergency responders.
The bombardments left 16 people dead and wounded additional residents, with destroyed homes and damaged structures surrounding the central church and school. The town, which has a predominantly Christian population and a Chin ethnic presence, bore the brunt of the violence as families faced loss and uncertainty in the aftermath.
Authorities noted that the town and its nearby areas have been under the control of an alliance of ethnic minority forces and anti-junta factions since last November. This coalition has asserted dominance in several pockets of the region, challenging the military administration and complicating any hopes for a swift return to normal life for residents who have endured years of unrest.
Across the country, clashes between the armed forces and local militias have intensified since late October. A major guerrilla offensive launched on October 27, coordinated under a plan known as Operation 1027 by the MNDAA and other factions, expanded across multiple fronts. The campaign reached areas in the north, east, west, central, and south of the country, fueling concerns about a broader escalation and drawing in more communities into sustained confrontation.
The political backdrop remains stark. The military junta, approaching its third anniversary in February, has continued a crackdown on democratic institutions and figures following a decade-long transition that began after a broad uprising. The detention of elected leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has aggravated the armed resistance, deepening a cycle of violence. The ongoing conflict has contributed to a crisis that spans the economy, governance, and the daily lives of ordinary people, intensifying displacement, shortages, and social strain across Myanmar.