Rakhine strike leaves casualty count uncertain
Rescue and Arakan Army officials report at least 33 dead and 36 wounded after an air strike near a market in Kyauktaw.
At least 33 people were killed and 36 wounded in an air strike near a market in Kyauktaw, Rakhine state, according to Arakan Army and rescue officials. The figures have not been independently verified, and the Arakan Army said the death toll could rise.
The Arakan Army said a fighter jet dropped two bombs near the market at noon on Monday. Rescue official Wai Hun Aung confirmed the reported casualties to the Associated Press and described the market as the region’s main wholesale centre, drawing traders and shoppers from across the state.
Myanmar’s military had not immediately commented. It has previously said it strikes only legitimate military targets and accused resistance groups of terrorism.
The attack comes amid a conflict that escalated after the 2021 military coup. The Arakan Army has captured 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships since launching an offensive in November 2023, while trade restrictions have worsened food shortages.
Nearly half a million people are displaced in Rakhine, according to United Nations data. A military air strike on a hospital in the state’s Mrauk U township in December reportedly killed at least 33 people and wounded 70.
