Airstrikes in Myanmar Spread Fear and Civilian Destruction

Four-year-old Ma July Phyo sits in a makeshift shelter in Mandalay with her mother, Ma Khin Phyo Kai, on April 2, 2025, five days after the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar. Despite a ceasefire announced after the earthquake, the Tatmadaw continued its aerial attacks on local villages in its fight against armed resistance groups across the country, which continues to have deadly consequences for civilians.

In Myanmar, airstrikes occur almost daily—a grim norm since the civil war erupted following the 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) and brought the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s military) to power.

Several human rights organisations report that these airstrikes disproportionately target civilians and continue to devastate lives.

The Tatmadaw has been using air power to combat armed resistance groups such as the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and to regain control of territories. According to a BBC investigation published on December 19, 2024, resistance groups control about 42 percent of the country’s land.

After the March 28 earthquake, a ceasefire was declared by the military and other groups. However, attacks continued. Myanmar Witness reported 80 airstrikes between March 28 and April 24, including in regions under emergency declaration.

The Karen Human Rights Group states that airstrikes are part of a broader campaign against civilians. UN agencies and human rights organisations have also reported patterns of attacks that include bombings, mass executions of detainees, and large-scale burning of homes.

UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said these strikes follow a pattern of widespread violence.

“There are frequent reports of people being killed, injured or displaced by violence—as well as increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure,” he said during a July 16 press briefing.

One of the most recent and deadly strikes occurred on July 11, when an airstrike hit a monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, killing 23 people and injuring 30. This attack came weeks after the military launched an offensive to recapture territories held by resistance groups.

Religious and community sites have increasingly come under attack. Myanmar Witness, a project of the Centre for Information Resilience investigating human rights abuses in Myanmar, documented 109 airstrikes damaging religious sites in 2024 alone.

One notable incident occurred on February 25, when a wedding held at a monastery in Magway Region was bombed after the invitation had been posted on social media. Eleven people were reportedly killed.

“These trends highlight that religious and cultural sites are increasingly at risk of complete destruction due to the ongoing conflict,” Myanmar Witness reported.

Dozens of schools have also been attacked, resulting in the deaths and injuries of children. Many students have stopped attending classes out of fear.

On May 12, an airstrike on a school in Oe Htein Kwin village in the Sagaing Region killed around 20 students and injured dozens more.

A principal from the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD) described how all four buildings of their school were destroyed in a March 23 airstrike on a village in Doo Tha Htoo District.

“I am sad to see the destruction of my school and worry that children will not be able to go to school,” the principal said. “I do not know how to describe my feelings of extreme fear. My whole heart breaks when I see the destroyed school. I cannot do anything now.”

Yadanar Maung, spokesperson for Justice For Myanmar, accused international governments and corporations of enabling the Tatmadaw’s violence by continuing to fund, arm, or train the military.

“The Myanmar military’s escalating violence against civilians, including airstrikes targeting children, is not happening in a vacuum,” Maung told IPS.

Maung praised Airbus for its recent divestment from AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited, citing the firm’s links to the violence in Myanmar.

“Others must follow,” Maung said. “Governments must also act with stronger targeted sanctions on the military, its businesses, cronies, and partners.”

The UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar is investigating whether the Tatmadaw’s actions amount to crimes against humanity. The Mechanism has called for data on aerial attacks, particularly those targeting children.

“Airstrikes that are indiscriminate or that deliberately target civilians may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity,” the Mechanism wrote.

Airstrikes have also made it extremely difficult for the UN to deliver humanitarian aid. Currently, one in three people in Myanmar face acute hunger, according to Dujarric.

“We urgently, and once again, call on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law,” he said.

Despite the scale of the crisis, Myanmar receives far less global media attention than other conflict zones. Myanmar Witness emphasises the need for continuous reporting.

“The international community isn’t fully aware of this ongoing internal conflict due to other global crises drawing media attention, especially in Western news outlets,” they stated. “It is important to continuously push to get news about Myanmar out to the international community as much as we can.”