GANGRAW, Myanmar — At least ten civilians have been killed in less than three weeks as the Myanmar military intensifies its aerial bombardment of the Yaw region, a known resistance stronghold in Magway Division.
The latest strike occurred around 1:00 PM on March 26, 2026, when a jet fighter—reportedly taking off from the Tada-U airbase—bombed a residential area in northwestern Htilin Township. Local witnesses told MPA that the attack happened in the absence of any active ground fighting.
In the village of Kazun Htaung, the strike destroyed at least three homes and left several residents wounded. “The heat from the afternoon sun made the fires spread rapidly,” one local woman said. “There were no battles nearby, yet they dropped bombs directly on us.”
The escalation follows a particularly deadly raid on March 24 near the Maw Lel junction, a strategic point between Gangaw and Htilin. During that operation, four jets from the Tada-U and Meiktila Shan Te airbases reportedly dropped multiple 500lb bombs and launched rockets, killing five people.
The relentless nature of the attacks has triggered a mass exodus from several villages in the Yaw region. Following warnings on social media that more strikes may be imminent, families have been seen fleeing on bullock carts and motorcycles toward safer areas or forest hideouts.
“We are living in constant fear,” another resident shared. “Those who haven’t fled are staying in bunkers, jumping at every sound from the sky.” Resistance forces have urged all civilians to dig reinforced bomb shelters as a basic survival measure.
The recent fatalities in the Yaw region underline a disturbing trend in the Myanmar conflict:
- March 16: Three people, including two women, were killed in an airstrike on the Kyauk Gu area of Gangaw.
- March 10: A single jet fighter bombed eastern Htilin, resulting in two gruesome deaths, including a man who was decapitated by shrapnel.
Military analysts note that the Yaw region, which borders both Sagaing Division and Chin State, is a critical logistics hub for anti-junta defense forces. However, the systematic targeting of non-combatant villages suggests a “scorched earth” strategy intended to break the spirit of civilian supporters rather than engage military targets.
As the sham government struggles to maintain control on the ground, the skies over Myanmar’s rural heartlands have become the frontline of a campaign that continues to draw international condemnation for its mounting civilian toll.
