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ABC News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Air strike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar kills more than 20 people
An air strike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's earthquake-struck Sagaing region has killed 23 people, including four children, according to witnesses. A member of a resistance group said the overnight aerial attack on the monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, in Sagaing township, injured about 30 other people, of which 10 were in a critical condition. The resistance member — who spoke on condition of anonymity — said 23 civilians were killed when a jet fighter dropped a bomb on a building in the village's monastery at about 1am. They said more than 150 people from nearby villages had been taking shelter there to avoid recent fighting in the region. Myanmar's independent Democratic Voice of Burma online media reported the death toll could be as high as 30, however the number could not be immediately confirmed. Hlaing Bwa, the head of the pro-democracy group that administers parts of the central region, and a local resident both described the attack as an air strike by the State Administration Council, Myanmar's military junta. The military did not immediately comment on the incident at the monastery, located about 35 kilometres north-west of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. In the past, the army has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists. The monastery housed about 200 people displaced by nearby fighting between the army and pro-democracy forces, Hlaing Bwa said. The nature of the attack could not immediately be verified. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms. Large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. Days after a devastating magnitude-7.7 earthquake hit Sagaing on March 28, the junta announced a temporary ceasefire to provide humanitarian relief and help rebuild the region, after similar moves from armed anti-junta groups. However, the military has continued to launch air strikes and artillery attacks on rebel-controlled areas, including those already destroyed by the quake, which killed almost 3,700 people. The military has increasingly used air strikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People's Defence Force in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance has no effective defence against air attacks. The monastery attack comes weeks after hundreds of soldiers took part in an offensive with tanks and aircraft in an area about 5km from Lin Ta Lu to regain territories controlled by the resistance groups. Thousands of people from nearby villages were displaced to the other towns and villages including Lin Ta Lu, the resistance fighter said. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity government, said the military had been trying to retake areas controlled by the resistance ahead of a planned general election later this year. The poll is widely seen as an attempt to normalise the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control. ABC/wires
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 23 dead after airstrike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar
BANGKOK (AP) — An airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar 's central Sagaing region killed at least 23 people who were taking shelter in the compound, separate sources said Friday. The overnight aerial attack on the monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, in Sagaing region's Sagaing township, injured about 30 other people, of which 10 were in a critical condition, according to a member of a resistance group. The resistance member — who spoke on condition of anonymity — told The Associated Press that 23 civilians including four children were killed after a jet fighter dropped a bomb around 1 a.m. on a building in the village's monastery where more than 150 people from nearby villages were taking shelter to avoid fighting in the region in recent weeks. Myanmar's independent Democratic Voice of Burma online media reported that the death toll could be as high as 30. That could not be immediately confirmed. The military did not immediately comment on the incident at the monastery, which is located about 35 km (20 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. In the past, the army has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People's Defense Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance has no effective defense against air attacks. The monastery attack comes weeks after hundreds of soldiers took part in an offensive with tanks and various aircraft in an area about five kilometers (three miles) from Lin Ta Lu to regain territories controlled by the resistance groups. Thousands of people from nearby villages were displaced to the other towns and villages including Lin Ta Lu, the resistance fighter said. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity Government, told the AP that the military regime has been trying to retake areas controlled by the resistance ahead of a planned general election later this year. The poll is widely seen as an attempt to normalize the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
At least 23 dead after airstrike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar
People check the debris at the building in a Buddhist monastery that was allegedly hit by the military's airstrike in Sagaing township in Sagaing region, Myanmar, Friday, July 11, 2025. (UGC via AP) BANGKOK — An airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's central Sagaing region killed at least 23 people who were taking shelter in the compound, separate sources said Friday. The overnight aerial attack on the monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, in Sagaing region's Sagaing township, injured about 30 other people, of which 10 were in a critical condition, according to a member of a resistance group. The resistance member — who spoke on condition of anonymity — told The Associated Press that 23 civilians including four children were killed after a jet fighter dropped a bomb around 1 a.m. on a building in the village's monastery where more than 150 people from nearby villages were taking shelter to avoid fighting in the region in recent weeks. Myanmar's independent Democratic Voice of Burma online media reported that the death toll could be as high as 30. That could not be immediately confirmed. The military did not immediately comment on the incident at the monastery, which is located about 35 km (20 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. In the past, the army has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People's Defense Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance has no effective defense against air attacks. The monastery attack comes weeks after hundreds of soldiers took part in an offensive with tanks and various aircraft in an area about five kilometers (three miles) from Lin Ta Lu to regain territories controlled by the resistance groups. Thousands of people from nearby villages were displaced to the other towns and villages including Lin Ta Lu, the resistance fighter said. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity Government, told the AP that the military regime has been trying to retake areas controlled by the resistance ahead of a planned general election later this year. The poll is widely seen as an attempt to normalize the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
At least 23 killed in airstrike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar
An overnight airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's central Sagaing region has killed at least 23 people, including four children, who were seeking refuge within the compound. Separate sources confirmed the casualties on Friday, following the aerial attack on Lin Ta Lu village. The assault, which occurred around 1 am, also left approximately 30 others injured, with 10 reported to be in critical condition. A member of a resistance group, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, stated that a jet fighter dropped a bomb on a building within the village's monastery. More than 150 individuals from nearby villages had been sheltering at the monastery, having sought safety there to avoid the escalating fighting in the region over recent weeks. Myanmar's independent Democratic Voice of Burma online media reported that the death toll could be as high as 30. That could not be immediately confirmed. The military did not immediately comment on the incident at the monastery, which is located about 35 km (20 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. In the past, the army has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People's Defense Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance has no effective defense against air attacks. Map: Lin Ta Lu village. The monastery attack comes weeks after hundreds of soldiers took part in an offensive with tanks and various aircraft in an area about five kilometers (three miles) from Lin Ta Lu to regain territories controlled by the resistance groups. Thousands of people from nearby villages were displaced to the other towns and villages including Lin Ta Lu, the resistance fighter said. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity Government, told the AP that the military regime has been trying to retake areas controlled by the resistance ahead of a planned general election later this year. The poll is widely seen as an attempt to normalize the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control.
CNA
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
At least 23 dead after airstrike on Buddhist monastery in Myanmar
BANGKOK: An airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's central Sagaing region killed at least 23 people who were taking shelter in the compound, separate sources said on Friday (Jul 11). The overnight aerial attack on the monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, in Sagaing region's Sagaing township, injured about 30 other people, of whom 10 were in a critical condition, according to a member of a resistance group. The resistance member - who spoke on condition of anonymity - told The Associated Press that 23 civilians including four children were killed after a jet fighter dropped a bomb around 1am (2.30am, Singapore time) on a building in the village's monastery where more than 150 people from nearby villages were taking shelter to avoid fighting in the region in recent weeks. Myanmar's independent Democratic Voice of Burma online media reported that the death toll could be as high as 30. That could not be immediately confirmed. The military did not immediately comment on the incident at the monastery, which is located about 35km northwest of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. In the past, the army has said it only attacks legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People's Defence Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. The resistance has no effective defence against air attacks. The monastery attack comes weeks after hundreds of soldiers took part in an offensive with tanks and various aircraft in an area about 5km from Lin Ta Lu to regain territories controlled by the resistance groups. Thousands of people from nearby villages were displaced to other towns and villages, including Lin Ta Lu, the resistance fighter said. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity Government, told the AP that the military regime has been trying to retake areas controlled by the resistance ahead of a planned general election later this year. The poll is widely seen as an attempt to normalise the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control.
