40 Killed in Airstrike in Myanmar

An airstrike carried out by Myanmar's military on a village in western Rakhine state resulted in at least 40 fatalities and left over 20 others injured, according to officials from the local ethnic Arakan Army and a charity group.

The attack, which took place in Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, also sparked fires that destroyed hundreds of homes.

The airstrike occurred on Wednesday afternoon in an area controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority group fighting for greater autonomy in Myanmar.

The military has yet to confirm the attack. Communications with the village remain severed, complicating independent verification of the incident.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, reported that all those killed were civilians, including women and children. A fire caused by the bombing spread throughout the village, engulfing over 500 homes.

While the reason for targeting Kyauk Ni Maw remains unclear, Myanmar's military has escalated airstrikes over the past years against both pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups, including the Arakan Army, which has made significant territorial gains.

The Arakan Army controls most of Rakhine state and is part of a broader alliance of armed groups seeking autonomy from the central government.

The attack has sparked further concerns about the escalating violence in Myanmar since the military's coup in 2021.

The country remains embroiled in conflict, with large parts under the control of various ethnic groups and pro-democracy forces opposing military rule.