Myanmar Airstrikes Claim Lives of 15 Civilians in Kachin State

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In a tragic incident on Saturday, Myanmar's ruling military junta conducted an airstrike that resulted in the deaths of at least 15 civilians and left 10 others injured in Kachin State, a region fraught with conflict. The attack took place around 11:00 am in a market located in a gold-mining area within Tanaing Township.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which controls the area, reported that those killed included gold miners and local shopkeepers. Colonel Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the KIA, condemned the airstrike as part of the junta's ongoing campaign against civilian targets since its 2021 coup. Images from the scene reveal extensive destruction, with debris scattered across the area and a large crater marking where the bomb was dropped.

With significant resources like jade mines and rare earth elements, Kachin State has been a focal point of conflict, as the KIA, with its roughly 7,000 fighters, seeks autonomy from the military government. In a separate incident, the Arakan Army also reported that the junta launched multiple attacks on a public market in Arakan State, indicating a widespread pattern of violence against civilian populations.

The junta's actions continue to draw condemnation as violence escalates amid efforts to suppress armed resistance in the region.

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