At least 33 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a Myanmar military air strike hit a bustling market in the opposition‑controlled town of Maungdaw, Rakhine State, on Monday.

Casualties and immediate aftermath

Local health officials in Rakhine State reported the death toll, saying the strike struck the centre of the market during the busy lunchtime rush. Survivors described a sudden, deafening roar followed by fire and debris, with many shoppers trapped under collapsed stalls.

Witnesses said the air raid left the market in flames, and ambulances struggled to reach the scene amid road blockages. Emergency teams from the Ministry of Health and the United Nations’ humanitarian arm began evacuating the injured to the nearest clinic, which was already overwhelmed by displaced residents.

How the strike unfolded

According to the junta’s state media, a single aircraft conducted a "precision strike" targeting what it described as "armed insurgents" operating near the market. Independent observers, however, have found no corroborating evidence of armed groups in the immediate vicinity at the time of the attack.

The Myanmar military has repeatedly used air power against areas it says are held by the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine insurgent group that has fought the junta since 2018. In recent months, the junta has intensified aerial bombardments across the state, often after ground clashes with the Arakan Army.

Human cost and humanitarian concerns

The market was a vital source of food and income for thousands of civilians displaced by the conflict. Its destruction cuts off a lifeline for families already struggling with shortages of rice, medicine and clean water.

Human Rights Watch, citing satellite imagery and survivor testimony, warned that the junta’s pattern of striking densely populated civilian zones could amount to violations of international humanitarian law. The group called for an independent investigation and for the military to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Background to the conflict

Myanmar’s civil war erupted after the February 2021 military coup ousted the elected civilian government. The junta has faced armed resistance from a patchwork of ethnic militias and pro‑democracy groups, leading to a spiral of violence that has displaced over 1.5 million people, according to the United Nations.

Rakhine State, home to the Rohingya minority and the Arakan ethnic group, has been a flashpoint for years. The Arakan Army seized control of large swathes of the state in 2022, prompting the military to launch a series of offensives that have included artillery barrages, aerial bombings and forced relocations.

International reaction

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) condemned the strike, urging all parties to respect civilian protection under the Geneva Conventions. "Every civilian death is a tragedy and a reminder of the urgent need for a political solution," an OCHA spokesperson said.

The United States and the European Union, which have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders, issued statements expressing "deep concern" over the latest attack. Neither country has taken further diplomatic steps beyond reiterating calls for an end to hostilities.

What lies ahead

Medical teams continue to treat the wounded while authorities assess the full extent of the market’s destruction. Aid agencies warn that without immediate humanitarian assistance, the already‑fragile supply chains in Rakhine could collapse, exacerbating famine risks.

The junta has not responded to requests for comment on the civilian death toll. Meanwhile, the Arakan Army has vowed to retaliate, hinting that further clashes are likely in the coming weeks.