By: The Trek News Desk
A late-night air assault by Myanmar’s military has left at least 34 people dead and dozens injured after bombs struck a hospital in Mrauk-U, a town currently under the control of the Arakan Army (AA). Local sources confirmed that the facility was filled with patients when the attack occurred.
Patients Among the Worst Hit
According to AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha, many of those killed were patients receiving treatment inside the hospital. He condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians, insisting that the junta must be held accountable.
Images circulating on social media show collapsed roofs, shattered hospital beds and debris scattered across the complex, reflecting the scale of destruction.
Escalating Conflict and Intensified Air Operations
Myanmar has been engulfed in conflict since the 2021 military coup, a period marked by thousands of deaths and mass displacement. In recent months, the junta has stepped up aerial bombardments and drone-style attacks in an effort to reclaim territories lost to ethnic armed groups.
Reports suggest that new military equipment from China and Russia has boosted the junta’s offensive capabilities.
Just weeks earlier, more than 20 people were killed when motorised paragliders dropped bombs on crowds gathered for a religious event.
Rising Tensions Ahead of National Elections
The junta is preparing to hold national elections on December 28, the first since the coup. However, opposition groups and international observers have dismissed the polls as a “sham election.”
UN human rights expert Tom Andrews has stated that the vote is merely an attempt by the military to create an illusion of legitimacy.
As the election nears, authorities have intensified arrests of civilians accused of spreading anti-election messages or participating in protests. Multiple activist groups have already pledged to boycott the vote.
Growing Instability Across the Region
With Election Day approaching, violence and political repression continue to escalate. In Myanmar’s Magway Region, an anti-junta group reportedly detained a candidate running in the upcoming polls.
The Arakan Army warns that Wednesday’s airstrike is another sign that the military is prepared to keep targeting civilian areas, regardless of mounting international criticism.
Source: News Agencies
