Airstrikes by Myanmar military at a village in the north-western Sagaing region on Tuesday claimed over 100 lives, including several children, reported BBC. The airstrikes took place while people were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule.
A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly onto a crowd of people who had gathering at 8 am to attend the opening ceremony of a local office of the country’s opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing.
About 150 people had gathered for the opening ceremony that was attended by women and about 30 children, the person further told AP. He also said that those killed also included leaders of locally formed anti-government armed groups and other opposition organisations.
"Yes, we launched the air strike," confirmed General Zaw Min Tun, Spokesperson of the military junta, in a statement to state television MRTV, as reported by AP. He further said that the military chose to attack Pa Zi Gyi because the village was holding a ceremony to mark the opening of an office for their local volunteer defence force.
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Since seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, the Myanmar military has increasingly used air power to suppress their opponents.
The attack which has claimed over 100 lives has been heavily criticised by the United Nations, United States and others.
Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to over 100, according to AP. Due to the restricted reporting by the military government, it hasn't been possible to independently confirm details of the attack.
More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since the military junta toppled the elected Aung San Suu Kyi government in 2021.