In a tragic incident that has once again highlighted the turmoil in Myanmar, between 50 and 100 people, including civilians, have reportedly been killed in an air strike carried out by the military. The event was attended by opponents to the military rule in the Sagaing region of central Myanmar. Several media outlets, including BBC Burmese, Radio Free Asia, and the Irrawaddy news portal, have reported the deaths, citing residents in the area. However, news agency Reuters has been unable to verify the reports, with a spokesperson for the ruling military not responding to requests for comment. Myanmar has been in a state of unrest since the military coup in 2021, which has been followed by attacks by ethnic minority armies and resistance groups that have challenged the rule of the military. In response, the military has carried out air strikes and used heavy weapons, even in civilian areas. According to a member of the local People’s Defence Force (PDF), an anti-junta militia, fighter jets had fired on a ceremony held to open their local office. The PDF member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “So far, the exact number of casualties is still unknown. We cannot retrieve all the bodies yet.”
