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Nway Oo Myaung reports 14 people killed in Myanmar military airstrike on Buddhist monastery

Nway Oo Myaung, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township, reported that a military airstrike killed 14 people at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's central Sagaing region. The attack occurred in Swel Le Oh village, where more than 100 people were gathered for a weeklong meditation retreat to mark Buddhist Lent. The victims, who were mostly elderly, included three women and 11 men. According to Nway Oo Myaung, the strike was an intentional attack on the monastery rather than a mistake. A local villager confirmed that a fighter jet dropped two bombs 15 minutes apart, injuring 20 others. While the military has not yet officially commented on this specific strike, it has previously maintained that it only targets legitimate military objectives and characterizes the resistance forces as terrorists. The strike occurs amidst an ongoing civil war that began after the military seized power in the 2021 coup. The Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended the operations, stating that security forces exercise maximum restraint to avoid civilian harm.

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