31 Killed in Myanmar Junta Air Strike on Hospital, Says Aid Worker

A Myanmar military air strike on Wednesday killed more than 30 people at a hospital in western Rakhine state, an aid worker at the scene said Thursday, as the junta steps up its offensive ahead of elections scheduled to begin later this month.

Conflict monitors report that air strikes have increased each year since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, ending a decade-long period of limited democratic rule. The junta has set December 28 as the start of nationwide polls, describing them as a pathway out of conflict, but rebel groups have vowed to prevent voting in areas under their control. The military has launched intensified operations in an effort to retake territory before the vote.

The air strike hit the general hospital in Mrauk-U, a historic town near the Bangladesh border, according to aid worker Wai Hun Aung. “The situation is very terrible,” he said, reporting at least 31 dead and 68 injured, with casualties expected to rise. Overnight images showed at least 20 shrouded bodies on the hospital grounds.

A junta spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.