Myanmar: Myanmar's military launched an airstrike on a Buddhist temple in the central Sagaing region on Friday (August 21), killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 20 others.

According to Thai News Agency, the attack occurred late Friday morning in the village of Swe Lo, Myawaddy Township, Sagaing Region, about 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, while approximately 100 people were participating in religious activities for the Buddhist Lent period. Myanmar military airstrikes dropped two bombs 15 minutes apart, killing 14 people - 11 men and 3 women, mostly elderly individuals aged between 50 and 70 who were observing the religious retreat. At least 20 others were injured, many seriously, by the explosions and shrapnel.

The Sagaing region is considered one of the areas with the most intense resistance against Myanmar's military junta since the 2021 coup. The Myanmar military has increasingly resorted to airstrikes after losing ground control to the People's Protection Force (PDF) and ethnic armed groups. The conflict monitoring organization ACLED states that the government military has resorted to terrorism tactics, targeting civilian infrastructure and religious festivals to create a widespread psychological impact. In the past five years, more than 100,000 people have died in attacks by both the military and various factions in Myanmar.

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