In brief
Myanmar’s military is accused of attacking a Buddhist monastery in the Sagaing region, killing 14 elderly residents who were on a meditation retreat. Opposition fighters claim the strike hit twice, with monks wounded but surviving. The air raids occurred early Friday morning, about 70 kilometres west of Mandalay. The incident fuels accusations of the junta targeting civilian sites amid ongoing civil war.
Myanmar’s military has allegedly carried out two air strikes on a Buddhist monastery in the northern Sagaing region on Friday morning, killing fourteen elderly people who were gathered for a meditation retreat.
Opposition fighters describing the attack said all deceased were aged between 50 and 70, with a number of monks wounded but surviving.
The strikes took place around 09:00 local time (02:30 GMT) in Myaung township, some 70km west of Mandalay, according to AFP.
Local rescue workers reported that the site was hit twice, and a second unnamed opposition fighter was on hand searching for survivors when the second bombing occurred.
Myanmar has been in a state of civil war since the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu‑Kyi; the junta has faced repeated accusations of attacking civilian sites, though it usually claims its strikes target legitimate military objectives.
