By: Camp Correspondent
Than Dwe, Rakhine State — June 8, 2025 |
Four civilians, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed and more than ten others injured after the Myanmar military launched multiple airstrikes on villages in Than Dwe Township on the night of June 7, according to local sources.
The attacks began around 10:00 PM, when fighter jets bombed several locations, targeting both civilian areas and a known Arakan Army (AA) site. Earlier that day, a pair of military jets dropped two bombs on a school in Kyauk Kyi village—first at 10:14 AM, and then again at 10:25 AM.
The strike on the school killed four civilians and injured eight others, six of whom remain in critical condition. Two more civilians were wounded in a third blast that struck the same area just minutes later.
Homes and Schools in Ruins
The bombings caused widespread destruction to Kyauk Kyi’s school and nearby homes. Villagers described scenes of panic and devastation, as families who had already fled conflict found themselves under attack again.
Later that night, around 10:38 PM, four additional bombs were dropped near a military camp reportedly operated by the AA, located between Streets 8/A and 6 in Than Dwe town.
Victims Were Displaced Civilians
Among those killed were:
- Daw Apu (48) – a displaced woman from Maung Shwe Lay, seeking refuge in Kyauk Kyi
- U Htun Htun Win (42)
- Daw Hnin Wai Khine (43)
- April Moe (12) – all from the same family, originally from Sin Din Gyi, and also living in Kyauk Kyi as displaced persons.
“They thought they had found safety in a quiet village,” said a local resident. “Now, even schools and shelters are targets.”
Airstrikes Intensify in AA-Controlled Areas
Since the Arakan Army (AA) took full control of Than Dwe town on September 5, 2024, airstrikes by the Myanmar military have intensified. The attacks appear aimed at dislodging AA forces but have increasingly targeted populated areas.
According to a statement by the United League of Arakan (ULA), at least 28 civilians have been killed and more than 70 injured in Than Dwe Township between September 2024 and June 7, 2025, as a result of ongoing air assaults.
As the conflict escalates, civilian casualties continue to mount, with displaced families often finding themselves caught between armed groups and aerial attacks. Rights groups have called for an immediate cessation of indiscriminate airstrikes and the protection of civilian zones under international humanitarian law.
