33 killed in Myanmar army airstrike on market in western part of the country

Thirty-three people were killed and 36 others injured today, Monday, in an airstrike launched by the Myanmar army on a market in the west of the country, according to the rebel group "Arakan Army," which controls the area.

The group said the strike targeted, around noon, a market and an adjacent bridge in the town of Kyauktaw in Rakhine State, noting that the death toll "may continue to rise," as reported by AFP.

Kyauktaw is located in Rakhine State, where fighting has been ongoing between the Myanmar army and armed groups, including the "Arakan Army," which has taken control of large areas of the state in recent years. The casualty figures announced by the group could not be independently verified.

Myanmar has been experiencing an armed conflict since the military coup in February 2021, which overthrew the civilian government, with clashes escalating between the military forces and armed resistance groups, alongside ethnic organizations seeking self-governance.

The army's reliance on airstrikes in its operations has increased, while human rights organizations accuse it of targeting civilian areas, including markets, homes, and health and educational facilities.