Myanmar Airstrike Worsens Crisis in Rakhine

A Myanmar military airstrike resulted in the deaths of 28 people, including children, and injured 25 others at a temporary detention site in Rakhine state, according to the Arakan Army (AA) and other sources. The detention area, located in Mrauk-U Township, housed family members of junta soldiers arrested during ongoing conflicts. The strike occurred as the AA was allegedly preparing to release these detainees. This incident is part of the broader conflict between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups, following the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government. The military has faced accusations of targeting civilian areas with air and artillery strikes amid its struggles against multiple fronts of resistance. The incident further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, where commerce and agriculture have been severely impacted by the conflict.