At least 19 students have been killed in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State after a junta air strike targeted two private high schools in Kyauktaw township, according to the Arakan Army (AA).
The AA, which has been locked in fierce battles with the military for control of Rakhine, said the midnight strike on Friday killed students aged between 15 and 21 and left 22 others wounded.
“We feel as sad as the victims’ families for the death of the innocent students,” the group said in a statement posted on Telegram, blaming the junta for the attack.
Local outlet Myanmar Now reported that a warplane dropped two 500-pound bombs while the students were asleep inside the school.
International Condemnation
The UN children’s agency UNICEF condemned the strike, calling it a “brutal attack” that highlights a pattern of devastating violence against children and families in Rakhine.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that efforts to confirm the situation with residents on the ground were hampered by poor internet and phone connections in the area.
Wider Conflict
The incident adds to the bloody conflict that has plagued Myanmar since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government. Armed resistance groups, including the Arakan Army, have gained significant ground, while the junta has been accused of repeatedly targeting civilians with air and artillery strikes.
The military has not yet issued a response to the allegations.