Monastery Targeted: 14 Lives Lost in Myanmar Air Strike
In the early hours of Friday, a military airstrike demolished a monastery in the village of Chhay Hoe O, Myaung township, Sagaing region. Fourteen people, all elderly, were killed and several monks sustained injuries.
The strike occurred at about 09:00 local time, when residents were gathered for a meditation retreat to observe Buddhist Lent. The attackers hit the site twice, returning after the first bombing when rescuers were trying to assess survivors.
Local opposition forces confirmed that the deaths included 11 men and three women, ranging from 50 to 70 years old, and reported that some victims were from neighbouring villages. A rescue worker said dozens of monks were wounded when the blasts engulfed the meditation halls.
Myanmar remains in a state of civil conflict since the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta has repeatedly been accused of targeting civilian and cultural sites, though it maintains it only attacks legitimate military objectives.
The community mourns the loss of its elders and the damage to a place of quiet reflection, emphasizing the fragility of sacred spaces in wartime.
