Myanmar military airstrike on monastery kills 14 civilians during meditation retreat

A Myanmar military airstrike on a monastery killed 14 people on Saturday. Civilians had gathered there for a meditation retreat.

The attack occurred in an area under military pressure. State media and independent reports confirm the death toll. The monastery was being used as a temporary gathering place.

Myanmar’s conflict has intensified in recent years, with both the military and opposition forces conducting operations across several regions. Civilian casualties from airstrikes have been a recurring feature of the fighting.

International organisations have repeatedly called for protection of civilian sites, including religious buildings. Access for independent verification remains restricted in many areas.

The military has not issued a detailed public statement on the specific incident. Opposition sources describe the strike as deliberate targeting of a non-military gathering.

The death of 14 people adds to the cumulative civilian toll of the civil war that escalated after the 2021 coup. Humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in conflict zones.

Further information on the identities of the victims and any subsequent military or international response is still emerging.