Junta airstrikes on Lay Nyin Taung village, kill 5 including 4 children, injure 10

The  military junta has launched airstrikes on Lay Nyin Taung (upper) village under Mrauk-U township of Rakhine State, using a jet fighter and it resulted in the deaths of five individuals including four children and injuries to 10 others.

A local resident said that at around 8:30 am on 21 March,  a junta jet fighter deliberately carried out airstrikes on the village.

"They carried out airstrikes using a jet fighter. It's devastating to witness bodies torn apart. The injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals. Some of them are in critical condition,” he added.

A woman from the village stated that three houses were destroyed in the airstrikes. Those killed by shrapnel included two boys (aged 3 and 4), two girls (13 each) and a woman in her 30s.

"A woman died while cooking at her home. Children who were buying snacks at a shop were also killed by shrapnel. Approximately 10 people were injured including the woman who was selling the snacks," she added.

The villagers also informed that the junta soldiers intentionally carried out the airstrikes to the east and west of Lay Nyin Taung village.

“A woman was injured by shrapnel when a bomb landed near the village. Additionally, another bomb struck on the western part of the village causing the casualties,” added the villagers.

The injured individuals are undergoing treatment at hospitals, but the death toll may increase, said a person from the location.

On 18 March, the junta carried out airstrikes on Thar Dar (Muslim) village under Minbya township, which killed 22 people and injured  29 others.

Facing setbacks in the Rakhine frontline, the junta soldiers are conducting airstrikes using jet fighters on Arakan Army  controlled areas like Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun townships. More than 30 civilians were killed and 50 were injured in the third week of March.