Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AP

A deadly airstrike by Myanmar’s military has struck the historic gem-mining town of Mogok, killing at least 21 civilians, including women and a pregnant woman. The attack, which took place late Thursday evening, adds to the growing list of air assaults that have shaken communities across the country since the military seized power in February 2021.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in Shwegu ward, a neighborhood inside Mogok township, located about 115 kilometers northeast of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. According to local sources and opposition groups, the strike caused massive destruction, damaging homes, religious buildings, and leaving several others injured.

Who carried out the attack?

The strike was carried out by a Myanmar military fighter jet that dropped bombs on the area. Witnesses and opposition groups said one of the bombs landed near a Buddhist monastery, which also suffered damage. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the largest ethnic armed groups fighting against the military, reported that the blast destroyed at least 15 houses.

Civilian toll and local accounts

The TNLA confirmed that 21 civilians were killed immediately, while seven others were injured. Their statement revealed that 16 of the dead were women. Two local residents, speaking anonymously out of fear of arrest, said the death toll may actually be higher, possibly close to 30. They explained that one of the houses destroyed in the bombing was hosting guests who had come to visit a pregnant woman. This contributed to the unusually high number of civilian deaths in a single strike.

Mogok’s importance

Mogok, often referred to as the “land of rubies,” is famous worldwide for its gemstones. For centuries, it has been the heart of Myanmar’s gem trade, especially rubies and sapphires that are sold internationally. Control over Mogok has been heavily contested because of its strategic and economic importance.

In July 2024, Mogok was seized by the TNLA, which is part of a larger alliance of ethnic armed groups that launched a major offensive against the military in late 2023. Since then, the town has been under the control of resistance forces, making it a target for repeated military airstrikes.

Escalation of violence

This latest airstrike in Mogok is not an isolated event. In recent weeks, Myanmar’s military has intensified its bombing campaign in different parts of the country, particularly in areas controlled by opposition forces. The TNLA reported that in just the first two weeks of August, at least 17 people, including two Buddhist monks, were killed by air raids in areas under their control. Another 20 were injured in those attacks.

Only days earlier, about 16 truck drivers were killed when military jets bombed a convoy of parked trucks near the central town of Sagaing. These trucks had stopped because of heavy fighting in the region. Opposition groups say such strikes are deliberately aimed at civilians to instill fear, although the military continues to claim it only targets armed groups it labels as “terrorists.”

The wider conflict

Myanmar has been in chaos since the military coup of February 2021, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. After peaceful protests were crushed with lethal force, resistance movements grew rapidly. Ethnic armed organizations that had been fighting for autonomy for decades joined forces with newly formed groups like the People’s Defence Force (PDF), creating a powerful resistance front.

Today, analysts believe the military controls less than half of the country. Resistance forces hold large swathes of land, particularly in border areas, while the military maintains a strong grip on the central regions and the capital city, Naypyidaw. Airstrikes have become the junta’s main weapon against resistance strongholds, since opposition forces have little to no defense against aerial bombardment.

Political backdrop

The timing of these attacks is also significant. Myanmar’s military regime has promised to hold elections by the end of this year. However, critics widely dismiss this plan as a sham. With independent media silenced, opposition leaders imprisoned, and fighting raging across the nation, there is little hope that any vote would reflect the people’s will.

Observers say the military is stepping up its counter-offensives in order to recapture lost territory before the planned elections. By targeting strongholds like Mogok, the junta aims to weaken the ethnic alliances and resistance groups, and at the same time project an image of strength ahead of its election campaign.

Fear among the population

The people of Mogok and other conflict zones now live in constant fear. Residents say they never know when the next airstrike will hit. The destruction of homes and religious sites has left many displaced, while the loss of family members in sudden attacks has caused deep grief and anger.

Photos and videos shared on local online platforms after the strike showed wreckage of homes, charred debris, and residents searching for survivors among the ruins. However, verifying the details independently has become increasingly difficult because of heavy military restrictions on access to conflict areas.

The broader picture

Myanmar’s civil war is now one of the world’s most underreported conflicts despite its scale. Tens of thousands have been killed since 2021, and millions have been displaced. With the military heavily relying on air power and resistance groups continuing to expand their control, there is no sign of an immediate resolution.

International voices have condemned previous airstrikes, calling them attacks on civilians, but the military has largely ignored such criticism. For the people of Mogok, the latest tragedy is yet another reminder of how dangerous daily life has become under a conflict that shows no signs of ending.