An airstrike targeting a Buddhist monastery in Swel Le Oh village in Myaung township, approximately 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, resulted in 14 deaths on Friday, according to statements from the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township and local residents. The strike occurred during a weeklong meditation retreat held at the monastery compound during the Buddhist Lent period, with participants numbering over 100 people. In addition to those killed, including three women, approximately 20 others sustained injuries from the attack.
Accounts indicate that a fighter jet dropped two bombs approximately 15 minutes apart on the monastery compound. Local media outlets including Myanmar Now and BBC’s Burmese-Language service reported death tolls ranging between 10 and 14 people, publishing images and video footage described as showing the aftermath of the strike. The military has not yet commented on the incident.
The airstrike represents part of a broader pattern of aerial bombardment in Myanmar following the military’s seizure of power from the elected government in February 2021. This action triggered an armed conflict that has led to widespread resistance across multiple regions. The military has characterized its air operations as targeting armed opposition forces and stated that it exercises maximum restraint in civilian protection efforts. The resistance movement, which includes the People’s Defense Forces active in Sagaing region, reportedly lacks effective defenses against aerial attacks.
A United Nations-established investigative mechanism previously documented a notable increase in military aerial strikes in the months preceding elections held in December and January. Myanmar’s foreign ministry responded to international criticism by asserting that limited airstrikes constitute counterterrorism operations directed exclusively at military targets in accordance with rules of engagement.
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