Fourteen people were killed and several monks were injured in military air strikes on a monastery in Myanmar's central Sagaing region on Friday. The attack occurred around 9:00 AM local time in Myaung township, approximately 70 kilometers west of Mandalay.
Civilians, including elderly individuals aged between 50 and 70, had reportedly gathered at the monastery for a meditation retreat to mark Buddhist Lent. A rescue worker described the site as being struck twice. The first strike occurred, and as rescue efforts were underway, a second air strike followed.
Opposition fighters reported that 11 men and three women were among the deceased. Five victims were from a single village, with the remaining nine hailing from a neighboring township. The Myanmar military has not yet commented on the incident.
Myanmar has been experiencing widespread civil conflict since the military coup in 2021, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military has been under martial law since the coup and faces frequent accusations of targeting civilian areas. The military has previously stated that it only engages legitimate targets.
Mats and rugs can be seen on the floor of an open-walled space for meditation.