Fourteen Killed in Air Strike on Myanmar Monastery

Fourteen people were killed early on Friday when a military air strike targeted a monastery in Myaung township, Sagaing region, Myanmar. Opposition fighters and a local rescue worker confirmed that all of the victims were elderly, with several monks sustaining injuries. The monastery had been hosting a Buddhist Lent meditation retreat when the attack occurred around 09:00 local time (02:30 GMT).

The rescue worker reported that the site was struck twice. “Older people had entered the meditation centres,” the frontline volunteer said, noting that the dead were aged between 50 and 70. Reports indicate that 11 men and three women were among the fatalities, with five of them from one village and the remaining nine from a nearby township.

A second unnamed opposition fighter, who was participating in the search for survivors, stated: “While we were trying to rescue people, the aircraft came to bomb a second time.” The precision of the bombing remains unclear, as the Myanmar military has not issued a statement concerning the incident. The conflict, which escalated following the 2021 coup that ousted democratically‑elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, continues to see frequent accusations of assaults on civilian and religious sites. The military consistently claims that it targets only legitimate positions.

Civilians gathered for the meditation retreat in the monastery had intended to observe Buddhist Lent; the strike’s timing and location caused significant disruption and grief. Local authorities and opposition groups are calling for inquiries and accountability as Myanmar’s civil war continues to affect everyday life across the country.