Myanmar military strike: Attack on Mrauk-U hospital leaves 34 dead; civil war intensifies

A Myanmar military air strike killed at least 34 people and wounded 68 at the general hospital in Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state on Thursday evening, said on-site aid worker Wai Hun Aung.The strike occurred as the junta wages a withering offensive ahead of elections beginning this month, AP news agency reported.Conflict monitors say the junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since Myanmar’s civil war began after the military snatched power in a 2021 putsch ending a decade-long experiment with democracy.The military has set polls starting December 28, touting the vote as an off-ramp to fighting, but rebels have pledged to block it from territory they control, which the junta is battling to claw back."The situation is very terrible," he said, as quoted by AFP. "As for now, we can confirm there are 31 deaths and we think there will be more deaths. Also there are 68 wounded and will be more and more."Last week, An air strike by Myanmar’s military on a tea shop in the country’s upper-central Sagaing region killed at least 18 civilians and wounded 20 others, a local villager and Myanmar’s independent online media said Monday. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected govt of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1-2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.