Six civilians killed by airstrike in northern Rakhine State

Six civilians, including children, were killed and seven others were injured by an airstrike carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Kyaungpho village of Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, on Friday. Kyauktaw, located 60 miles (96 km) northeast of the state capital Sittwe, was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) in February 2024.

“They were killed on the spot. The military bombed two places in the village,” a Kyauktaw resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that four homes were destroyed.

One resident of another Kyauktaw village was killed and four others were injured by a regime airstrike on Feb. 9.

Twenty-two students were killed and at least 20 others were injured at Kyauktaw’s Pyinyar Pan Kin and Amyin Thit schools in Thayettapin village on Sept. 12.

At least 12 civilians were killed and 31 were injured by airstrikes in Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Kyaukpyu and Pauktaw townships Oct. 29-30. 

The AA has seized control of 14 of Arakan’s 17 townships, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chinland, after launching an offensive on Nov. 13, 2023.

It has stated that regime airstrikes have targeted civilians, including children, and claimed that it is committing “war crimes.” 

DVB has documented that 1,849 people have been killed in 2,321 airstrikes nationwide so far this year.

The AA has warned residents to remain vigilant as the regime continues airstrikes against civilian areas.

Regime forces launched a nationwide counteroffensive ahead of its 2025-26 elections set to begin on Dec. 28 and continue into January 2026, in an effort it says will stabilize the country. 

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), a U.N.-mandated body collecting evidence of serious international crimes, stated on Wednesday that it has received an increasing number of reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by regime forces ahead of the elections.

The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) announced that the first phase of its planned elections was set to take place on Dec. 28 in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung townships, which are under regime control. 

The second phase of voting, scheduled for Jan. 11, 2026, will not include any constituencies in Arakan State.