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Myanmar’s military acknowledged on Saturday that it conducted an airstrike on a hospital in western Rakhine state, an attack that local rescuers claim killed more than 30 people, including patients, medical staff, and children.
In a statement published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the military justified the Wednesday strike by claiming armed opposition groups were using the facility as a base. According to the military, these groups included the ethnic Arakan Army and pro-democracy militias such as the People’s Defense Force and Bamar People’s Liberation Army, which formed after the 2021 military coup.
The military characterized the operation as “necessary security measures” and a “counter-terrorism operation” against the hospital buildings. It asserted that those killed or injured were armed opposition members and their supporters, not civilians.
This account directly contradicts reports from local rescue services. A senior rescue official told The Associated Press on Thursday that 34 people, including patients and medical personnel, were killed when a military fighter plane dropped two bombs on the general hospital in Mrauk-U township. The official added that approximately 80 others were injured and the hospital building was destroyed in the Wednesday night attack.
The United Nations issued a statement Thursday condemning the strike, describing it as part of a “broader pattern of strikes causing harm to civilians and civilian objects that are devastating communities across the country.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, expressed that he was “appalled” by the attack on the facility, which provided essential primary healthcare services to the region. He emphasized that the destruction will severely disrupt healthcare access for entire communities.
In a rare move criticizing one of its own members, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), currently chaired by Malaysia, condemned the airstrike in a statement released Saturday. ASEAN called the attack on civilians and medical facilities “unacceptable” and a violation of the organization’s charter principles. The regional bloc urged all parties in Myanmar to immediately halt indiscriminate violence and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Mrauk-U, located 326 miles northwest of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, fell under Arakan Army control in February 2024. The Arakan Army represents the well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, which seeks autonomy from Myanmar’s central government.
The group launched an offensive in Rakhine in November 2023 and has since captured a strategically important regional army headquarters and 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships. Following the hospital attack, the Arakan Army vowed to pursue accountability in cooperation with global organizations and take “strong and decisive action” against the military.
The group also reported that the Myanmar military has continued its campaign of violence, launching nighttime airstrikes in five Rakhine towns since the hospital attack. These subsequent strikes reportedly killed at least eight civilians and wounded ten others.
Myanmar has been engulfed in civil conflict since February 2021, when the military seized power from the democratically elected government. The coup triggered nationwide opposition, with many civilians taking up arms against the junta. The resulting conflict has spread throughout large portions of the country, with different ethnic armed organizations and pro-democracy militias battling military forces across multiple fronts.
The attack on the Mrauk-U hospital represents one of the deadliest single incidents in the ongoing conflict and has drawn widespread international condemnation for violating protected status typically afforded to medical facilities under international humanitarian law.
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17 Comments
Tragic situation in Myanmar. The military’s claims of armed groups using the hospital seem questionable given the civilian casualties reported. Proper investigations are needed to determine the facts and ensure accountability.
I agree, the military’s justification raises serious concerns. Hospitals should be safe havens, not targets. Transparency and an independent inquiry are crucial here.
The military’s justification for this airstrike is highly questionable. Hospitals are supposed to be protected spaces, especially in conflict zones. I hope an independent investigation is launched to determine the facts and ensure accountability.
Agreed. Attacking a medical facility, even if armed groups were allegedly present, is a war crime. The military’s claims need to be thoroughly scrutinized, and those responsible must face consequences.
The military’s justification for this airstrike is highly concerning. Hospitals are supposed to be protected spaces, even in conflict zones. I hope the international community condemns this attack and demands a transparent, independent investigation.
I agree completely. Attacking a medical facility, even if armed groups were allegedly present, is a war crime. The military’s claims must be thoroughly scrutinized, and those responsible held accountable.
This is a disturbing development in the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. Targeting medical facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The military must be held accountable for this attack.
Absolutely. Attacking a hospital, even if armed groups were present, is a war crime. The military’s claims need to be thoroughly investigated by independent parties.
This is a tragic and unacceptable escalation of the conflict in Myanmar. Intentionally targeting a hospital, even if armed groups were allegedly present, is a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The military must be held accountable.
Agreed. The military’s claims need to be thoroughly investigated by an independent, impartial body. Protecting civilians, especially the wounded and medical personnel, is a fundamental principle of the laws of war.
The military’s justification for this airstrike is highly questionable. Hospitals are supposed to be protected under international humanitarian law, even in conflict zones. I hope the international community strongly condemns this attack and demands an independent investigation.
Absolutely. Attacking a medical facility is a war crime, regardless of any alleged presence of armed groups. The military’s claims need to be thoroughly scrutinized, and those responsible must be held accountable.
The military’s justification for this airstrike is very concerning. Hospitals are supposed to be protected under international law, even in conflict zones. I hope the international community condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms.
This is a deeply concerning incident. Targeting a hospital, even if armed groups were present, is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. The military’s justification requires independent verification, and those responsible must be held accountable.
This is a deeply troubling incident. Targeting a hospital, even if armed groups were present, is a grave violation of international law. The military’s claims require independent verification, and those responsible must be held accountable.
This is a tragic and unacceptable escalation of the conflict in Myanmar. Targeting a hospital, even if armed groups were present, is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. I hope the international community responds swiftly and decisively to this attack.
I’m deeply concerned about this attack on a hospital in Myanmar. Civilians, including patients and medical staff, should never be targeted, even if armed groups are suspected of being present. This is a clear violation of international law.