The Military Council’s jet aircraft bombed Moe Tar Lay village in Katha Township of Sagaing Division, killing 7 residents and seriously injuring 5 others, locals said.

At around 4:00 PM on January 18th, the Military Council conducted an aerial bombardment intentionally on Moe Tar Lay village, which lies about 3 miles away from the place where the Junta troops and resistance confronted in a skirmish.

"The battle took place more than 3 miles away from Moe Tar Lay. The warplanes bombed not only the area where the fighting broke out but also the village that had nothing to do with the fighting. The casualties occurred when a bomb hit a house where a donation was being held”, a local source told KNG.

The aerial bombardment by the Military Council killed innocent people, identified as Ma San Myint, Daw Tin Nyein, Ma Aye Khine, Daw Nyo, Ma Khin Mar Kyi, Mo Ou and Ko Maung Lwin, a total of 6 women and 1 man.

In addition, U Wai Lin Tun, Ma Kyu Nwe and her daughter, two other unidentified people, a total of 5 were seriously injured.

“As of this morning, 7 deaths have been confirmed. Some of the bodies were burnt, so it was difficult to distinguish who was who. Many farm animals also died”, the source said.

Along Moe Tar and Inn Ywar Provinces in Katha Township, about 3 miles away from the village of Moe Tar Lay, All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and People's Defense Forces (PDF) joined forces and attacked the Military Council in recent days. As the Military Council suffered dearly in that battle, they retaliated with air raids.

Currently, the military situation is tense around the combat area, locals said.

Last year, the Military Council carried out at least 8 airstrikes in 7 villages in Katha Township, forcing the residents to flee to safety.