According to reports, the Burmese military carried out airstrikes overnight in the Rakhine state towns of Kyaukphyu, Rathedaung, and Mrauk-U.
From 11 p.m. on August 8 through the early hours of August 9, junta jets bombed the townships of Kyaukphyu, Rathedaung, and Mrauk-U.
The military council launched an attack on the Min Pyin village monastery, the Dhammayon, and the high school in Kyaukphyu township on the full moon day of the month of Wakaung, which is the Buddhist holy day, at around 11 p.m. on August 8, killing and injuring people.
“They bombed from jets at night. Two 500-pound bombs were dropped. The damage was extensive. The precise figure is unknown. In addition, there were fatalities,” stated a Kyaukphyu local.
Because they are celebrating the full moon day of the month of Wakhong, it is likely that people will be killed in the town that was bombed, which is located at a distance from the combat zone.
"The area that was struck has nothing to do with the battle zone. They are targeting the monasteries. We must be careful,” he said. The source also stated that several buildings at Min Pyin Village High School were destroyed.
According to locals, the military council air force used jet fighters to drop two bombs on the embankment near the ancient village of Tun Rawai in Rathedaung Township at about 2:09 and 2:10 a.m. on August 9.
"I don't know why they dropped it. It didn't land close to any of the towns. It dropped close to a riverbank. There were no injuries," a local said.
The military council detonated two 500-pound bombs in Htun Rawai village on May 13, killing twelve people, including youngsters, and injuring twenty-three more.
A woman from Mrauk-U told Narinjara that she heard explosions when a jet fighter bombed the township of Mrauk-U at about 2 a.m. on August 9.
I heard it strike someplace between the towns of Waisa Lee and Pauk Taw Byin. The bomb was indeed dropped. She said that the explosion kept her awake all night.
Due to communication issues, it is unclear whether there were victims during the bombing, she said.
"The communication is so bad that we haven't gotten any reliable information, and we haven't heard of any casualties yet," she said.
With airstrikes, the Myanmar military has been targeting religious structures throughout Rakhine State, such as schools, hospitals, monasteries, and religious Dhammayons (ordination halls).
Since July 31, when it announced a 90-day state of emergency in 63 towns across nine regions and states, including 15 towns held by the Arakan Army (AA), the National Defense and Security Council, headed by military commander Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has stepped up aerial strikes.
