At least 21 people, including civilians and a pregnant woman, were killed in an air strike conducted by the Myanmar military in Mogok, a city in the Southeast Asian nation. The attack, which also caused damage to 15 homes, has further intensified the ongoing conflict since the military’s seizure of power in February 2021.
The air strike occurred in the Shwegu ward of Mogok Township, approximately 115 kilometers northeast of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, as stated by Lwe Yar Oo, a spokesperson for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The TNLA is one of the powerful ethnic militias battling the military near the Chinese border.
According to reports, the air strike resulted in the deaths of approximately 21 civilians and left seven others injured. Additionally, several homes and Buddhist monastery buildings were damaged. The TNLA had captured Mogok, a gem-mining center in the upper Mandalay region, in July 2024.
A statement released by the TNLA via Telegram revealed that the air strike targeted a Buddhist monastery in the Shwegu ward of Mogok and resulted in the deaths of 16 women. The statement also indicated that 15 homes were damaged as a result of bombs dropped by a jet fighter.
While the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, two Mogok residents reported that the death toll has reached approximately 30. These residents spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of military reprisal. Independent online media outlets, such as Myanmar Now and Democratic Voice of Burma, have shared images and videos depicting the aftermath of the air strike.
The Myanmar military has yet to issue any official comments regarding the incident. In the past, the military has maintained that it only targets legitimate military objectives and has accused resistance forces of engaging in terrorism.
The situation in Myanmar has remained volatile since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021. The military government has escalated its air strikes against pro-democracy People’s Defence Force and ethnic militias.
In the first two weeks of August, air strikes in areas controlled by the TNLA resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals, including two Buddhist monks, and injured 20 others. Furthermore, recent air strikes near Sagaing in central Myanmar claimed the lives of approximately 16 people, primarily truck drivers. The military’s control is estimated to be less than half of the country, and it plans to hold elections later this year.
Critics argue that these elections are unlikely to be democratic due to the absence of free media and the detention of numerous leaders from Suu Kyi’s party. Many opposition groups have expressed their intention to disrupt these elections.