Fourteen Killed in Air Strike on Myanmar Monastery

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:59:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Military aircraft struck a meditation centre twice, killing 14 elderly people and injuring monks, says local sources.

A military air strike struck a monastery in Myaung township, Myanmar early Friday, killing 14 elderly civilians and injuring monks. The attack was reportedly executed twice, hitting a meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent. Local opposition fighters report that victims were primarily men and women aged 50‑70, with five from the same village and nine from a neighboring township. Myanmar’s army has not commented, amid an ongoing civil war since the 2021 coup.

Fourteen people were killed in a Myanmar air strike on a monastery early Friday, opposition fighters and a local rescue worker claimed.

All casualties were elderly and several monks were injured. The strike hit the monastery twice, the rescue worker told BBC Burmese.

The attack took place around 09:00 local time (02:30 GMT) in Myaung township, 70 km west of Mandalay, AFP reported.

Locals had gathered for a Buddhist Lent meditation retreat. Myanmar’s military has not commented.

Nway Oo Myaung, a pro‑democracy rebel, said the victims included 11 men and three women. Five were from the same village; nine were from a neighbouring township.

He added that the deceased were aged between 50 and 70.

A second unnamed opposition fighter reported that during rescue attempts a second bombing took place.

Myanmar remains embroiled in civil war since the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Ki. The military, accused of hitting public places, has said it only targets legitimate military positions.