A devastating airstrike by Myanmar’s military junta on a Buddhist monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing township, killed at least 23 civilians, including four children, early Friday, sources confirmed. The attack, which occurred around 1 am, targeted a compound sheltering over 150 displaced people fleeing nearby fighting, injuring around 30 others, with 10 in critical condition, according to a resistance group member speaking anonymously to The Associated Press.

The Democratic Voice of Burma reported a potential death toll of up to 30, though this remains unverified. The monastery, located 35 km northwest of Mandalay, was hit by a jet fighter dropping a 500-pound bomb, witnesses said. Social media posts showed horrific scenes of a collapsed roof, shattered stone, and scattered belongings amid the rubble.

Myanmar’s military, the State Administration Council, offered no immediate comment, having previously claimed to target only “legitimate” resistance forces, labeling them terrorists. Sagaing, a resistance stronghold, has faced relentless junta airstrikes, with no effective defense available to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). The attack follows a recent offensive 5 km away, involving tanks and aircraft, which displaced thousands to Lin Ta Lu and nearby areas.

Also Read: Security Forces Hunt 40-50 Terrorists in Jammu

Since the February 2021 coup ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war, with the junta’s lethal crackdowns fueling armed resistance. National Unity Government spokesperson Nay Phone Latt accused the military of escalating attacks to reclaim rebel-held territories before a planned election, widely seen as a ploy to legitimize their rule. The region, already reeling from a March 2025 earthquake killing over 4,500, faces ongoing junta airstrikes despite ceasefire declarations.

Human rights groups condemned the strike, with Fortify Rights investigating reports of up to 30 deaths, highlighting the junta’s pattern of targeting civilian sites like monasteries and schools. The international community faces growing calls to address these alleged war crimes as Myanmar’s conflict deepens.

Also Read: Hyderabad Cricket Association Rocked by Rs 1 Crore Fraud: Paid for 8,340 Cricket Balls That Never Arrived!