Myanmar’s military leadership has officially acknowledged conducting an airstrike on a medical facility in Rakhine State, following days of international outcry over an attack that local sources claim resulted in over 30 fatalities. The military’s information office released a statement through state media asserting that armed opposition groups had been utilizing the hospital as an operational base, justifying the Wednesday assault as a necessary counter-terrorism measure.
The military’s account sharply contradicts eyewitness reports from rescue personnel who described a devastating scene at Mrauk-U Township’s general hospital, where patients, medical staff, and children were reportedly among the casualties. According to local emergency responders, the aerial bombardment destroyed the healthcare facility and left approximately 80 individuals wounded.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of intensifying conflict across Myanmar since the 2021 military takeover, with the ethnic Arakan Army establishing control over significant portions of Rakhine State, including Mrauk-U which fell under their authority in February 2024. The well-organized ethnic force has captured strategic military positions and now governs most of the region’s townships.
The international community has responded with unprecedented criticism. The United Nations condemned the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of violence affecting civilian infrastructure, while World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed profound dismay at the destruction of a critical healthcare provider. In a rare move, ASEAN—currently chaired by Malaysia—issued a formal condemnation, describing the attack as unacceptable and in violation of the bloc’s foundational principles.
The Arakan Army has vowed to pursue accountability through international channels and promised decisive action against military forces, reporting subsequent airstrikes across multiple Rakhine towns that have resulted in additional civilian casualties.