At least 25 civilians were killed in what has been described as the deadliest air attack ever carried out in Karenni State, after Myanmar’s junta launched strikes on a community in Hpasawng Township on Sunday.
The bombardment targeted areas near Mawchi town, a major tin mining hub, and left homes and public spaces destroyed. Local authorities confirmed that five children were among those killed. The Karenni Interim Executive Council reported that 23 bodies had been recovered, including six women and two girls, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with several families wiped out and survivors struggling to retrieve bodies from the rubble. Emergency teams faced challenges due to the continued presence of junta aircraft in the skies, which sparked fears of renewed attacks.
The strikes marked a significant escalation in military violence in Karenni State, where resistance groups have maintained strong opposition against the junta since the 2021 coup. For years, the region has been one of the epicenters of armed resistance, with local forces controlling large swathes of territory.
Rights groups condemned the assault, calling it a deliberate attack on civilians. Community leaders in the state labeled it a “massacre,” insisting that no military targets were present in the area struck by the air force.
The attack adds to a growing list of atrocities carried out by the junta across the country as it faces mounting pressure from both armed resistance groups and international condemnation. Karenni leaders have vowed that such violence will only strengthen their resolve to resist military rule.
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