An airstrike carried out by the military junta near Yamchaung Village in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, has reportedly killed 28 detainees, including women and children, held by the Arakan Army (AA). The attack, which occurred on January 18 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., involved three consecutive bombings by fighter jets, according to a statement released by the AA on January 19.
The victims, primarily family members of junta soldiers, were being held in a temporary detention facility near Yanchaung Village and were due to be released in the near future, the AA stated. In addition to the fatalities, 25 individuals sustained injuries, some critically. The AA expressed concern that the death toll could rise as some of the injured are receiving emergency medical care.
The AA condemned the junta’s indiscriminate airstrike, accusing it of targeting non-combatants and violating international laws. The group also highlighted that this attack is part of a broader pattern of deliberate strikes by the military junta on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, markets, religious buildings, bridges, and refugee camps.
Since the beginning of 2025, the junta has escalated such operations, prompting the AA to urge civilians to exercise caution against potential airstrikes and to be vigilant when using the internet and telecommunications services.
The incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict between the military junta and ethnic armed groups.
