At least 34 people have died and dozens more are injured after air strikes from Myanmar's military hit a hospital in the country's west on Wednesday night, according to ground sources.
The hospital is located in Mrauk-U town in Rakhine state, an area controlled by the Arakan Army - one of the strongest ethnic armies fighting the country's military regime.
Since the military seized power in a coup in 2021 and triggered a civil war, thousands have died and millions have been displaced. In recent months, the military has intensified air strikes to reclaim territory from ethnic armies, including the use of paragliders to drop bombs on its adversaries.
The Myanmar military has not commented on the strikes. However, pro-military accounts assert that the attacks were not aimed at civilians. Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, stated that most of the casualties were patients at the hospital, labeling the assault as a vicious attack on civilian spaces.
Photos from the scene depict severe damage to the hospital, with roofs missing and debris scattered throughout the area. The military's campaign gained momentum after receiving technological support from China and Russia, leading to significant territorial gains, while civil liberties continue to diminish under the junta's rule.
The junta's plans for a general election on December 28 have been met with skepticism, as critics assert it will not be free or fair. Many opposition groups and ethnic armies have pledged to boycott the vote, and there are reports of increased detentions of dissenters in the lead-up to the elections.
The hospital is located in Mrauk-U town in Rakhine state, an area controlled by the Arakan Army - one of the strongest ethnic armies fighting the country's military regime.
Since the military seized power in a coup in 2021 and triggered a civil war, thousands have died and millions have been displaced. In recent months, the military has intensified air strikes to reclaim territory from ethnic armies, including the use of paragliders to drop bombs on its adversaries.
The Myanmar military has not commented on the strikes. However, pro-military accounts assert that the attacks were not aimed at civilians. Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, stated that most of the casualties were patients at the hospital, labeling the assault as a vicious attack on civilian spaces.
Photos from the scene depict severe damage to the hospital, with roofs missing and debris scattered throughout the area. The military's campaign gained momentum after receiving technological support from China and Russia, leading to significant territorial gains, while civil liberties continue to diminish under the junta's rule.
The junta's plans for a general election on December 28 have been met with skepticism, as critics assert it will not be free or fair. Many opposition groups and ethnic armies have pledged to boycott the vote, and there are reports of increased detentions of dissenters in the lead-up to the elections.
