Myanmar airstrike reportedly kills students, teachers

At least 20 students and two teachers at a school in the Depayin Township in northwestern Myanmar died Monday in a strike by Myanmar’s military, according to a resistance group calling itself the National Unity Government. Independent media outlet The Irrawaddy reported that the death toll rose Wednesday to 25 after three more children died from injuries they sustained in the attack. The Irrawaddy news outlet was founded by exiles from Myanmar, also called Burma, who live in Thailand. The country’s military junta seized control of the government in 2021.

Who were the victims? The children were in grades 2 to 11, according to the National Unity Government, or NUG, which represents opponents of the country’s military junta. The NUG shadow government vowed to seek justice for the victims and called on the international community to impose sanctions against the military rulers. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, especially against children. He added that the region is still recovering from an earthquake that killed more than 1,600 people earlier this year.

How did Myanmar’s military respond to the reports? The country’s State Administration Council government on Tuesday called the reports of the airstrike fake news, according to the state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar. The state report denied that its military carried out such an airstrike. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups reported that the junta has continued launching strikes against its opponents despite a temporary ceasefire intended to support recovery from the earthquake.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report about the United States sanctioning a militia group in Myanmar, the Karen National Army.