Around 30 Civilians Killed in Kyaukkyi After Junta Airstrikes and Detentions, KNU Says

About 30 civilians were killed in Kyaukkyi Township, Nyaunglebin District of Bago Region, following military operations carried out by Myanmar’s junta, according to a statement released on March 9 by the Karen National Union (KNU).

The KNU said junta forces arbitrarily detained around 160 civilians from Yay Twin Kone village tract in Kyaukkyi Township on March 5. Two days later, on March 7, fighting broke out between junta troops and KNU forces, during which the military reportedly launched airstrikes using drones and jet fighters in the area.

According to the KNU, 25 of the detained civilians were killed during the air attacks, while five others were allegedly executed by junta troops, bringing the total number of civilian deaths to around 30.