At least 23 civilians, including four children, were killed in an overnight airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region, according to reports by the Associated Press. The attack occurred around 1 a.m. on Friday in Lin Ta Lu village, where more than 150 people had taken shelter from the ongoing conflict in the area.
A member of the resistance, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity, said the airstrike was carried out by a jet fighter that dropped a bomb on a building within the monastery compound. Around 30 others were injured, 10 of whom are in critical condition.
Independent media outlet Democratic Voice of Burma reported that the death toll could be as high as 30, though this figure has not been independently verified. The monastery is located approximately 35 kilometres northwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.
The PDF and residents of Lintalu village, Sagaing Township, told DVB that at least 30 civilians were killed and 14 others were injured by an airstrike on a monastery sheltering around 100 residents in Sagaing Region on Friday https://t.co/tkjDSwnHXw#whatshappeninginmyamar
— DVB English News (@DVB_English) July 11, 2025
There has been no official response yet from the military. In previous incidents, the military has claimed that it targets only legitimate threats and labels resistance forces as terrorists.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the military coup in February 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. In response to the brutal crackdown on peaceful protests, many citizens have taken up arms. Sagaing region has become a key area of resistance and has faced repeated military offensives, including airstrikes.
The People’s Defense Forces, active in the area, have no adequate means to defend against aerial attacks. The latest bombing came weeks after the military launched a major operation using tanks and aircraft in the region to reclaim territory held by opposition groups.
Thousands have been displaced from nearby villages, many of whom sought refuge in Lin Ta Lu. According to opposition spokesperson Nay Phone Latt, the military is ramping up efforts to regain control of resistance-held areas ahead of a general election planned for later this year. Critics believe the vote is an attempt to legitimise military rule after the 2021 coup.
