Myanmar Junta Airstrike Kills 19 Students, Injures Dozens in Rakhine

A Myanmar military airstrike targeted two private schools in Kyauktaw township, western Rakhine state, killing at least 19 students aged 15 to 21 and injuring 22 others as they slept. The attack, condemned by UNICEF, is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence in the region amid ongoing conflict between the Myanmar junta and the ethnic Arakan Army (AA), which controls parts of Rakhine. The AA blamed the military junta for the strikes, while the junta has not responded to requests for comment. Video footage and reports describe extensive destruction at the school dormitories, highlighting the human toll on children and families caught in the conflict. This incident occurs within the larger context of Myanmar's civil war, which intensified after the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government. The violence continues to disrupt the region as Myanmar prepares for a contested national election expected early next year.