A sudden military airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in central Myanmar’s Sagaing region has claimed the lives of 14 people. The victims, who had gathered for a weeklong meditation retreat, were killed on Friday when a fighter jet targeted the sanctuary in Swel Le Oh village. Located in Myaung township, the village sits about 75 kilometres west of Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. Local sources, including a regional opposition spokesperson and a resident, confirmed the devastating attack. In a country torn apart by civil war, such aerial assaults are becoming a terrifying norm. Pro-democracy groups and ethnic minorities frequently face these lethal strikes. For ordinary citizens, the sky has become a source of constant dread.

Two bombs, fifteen minutes apart

According to Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Myaung Township Civil Defence and Security Organisation (CDSOM), the dead included three women. Another 20 people suffered injuries in the compound. A local villager, speaking anonymously due to severe safety concerns, described how the horror unfolded. A fighter jet dropped two bombs. The gap between them was just 15 minutes. The second bomb struck a house near the monastery. Inside, more than 100 devotees were observing a sacred retreat during Buddhist Lent. The impact was instantaneous and catastrophic. The survivor's mother-in-law was among those killed. Following the tragedy, grief-stricken villagers cremated their dead before fleeing to a nearby community. Media outlets like BBC Burmese and Myanmar Now reported a death toll ranging from 10 to 14.

A nation locked in conflict

The military did not issue an immediate comment on the monastery attack. However, the army has previously maintained that it only targets armed insurgents, whom it labels as terrorists. Myanmar has been in deep turmoil since February 2021. A military coup overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, plunging the nation into a bitter civil war. Peaceful protests were met with lethal force. In response, many citizens took up arms. The Sagaing region has emerged as a major stronghold of the armed resistance. Here, the People's Defence Forces fight back. But they have no effective defence against the military's escalating aerial campaigns.

Rules of engagement under scrutiny

This tragedy follows warning signs from international observers. The UN-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) recently reported a dramatic rise in military air strikes. This escalation occurred in the months leading up to the December and January elections and has continued unabated. On Sunday, Myanmar's foreign ministry rejected the UN findings. The ministry claimed its operations are strictly limited to counter-terrorism. It stated that security forces target only insurgents and exercise maximum restraint to prevent civilian harm. Yet, for those cremating their loved ones in Swel Le Oh, the reality on the ground tells a far more harrowing story