Junta Airstrike Targets Own Captured Soldiers and Families in Rakhine State, Killing and Injuring Several – Arakan Army Reports

On January 20, 2026, at approximately 7:24 PM and 7:28 PM local time, fighter jets of the Myanmar military junta carried out a deliberate airstrike on a location west of Chaung Tu (also known as ဆောင်းဒုံ) village, near the border between Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships in Rakhine State.

According to the Arakan Army’s News and Information, the targeted site was a temporary holding area where the Arakan Army (AA) was keeping junta soldiers captured in recent battles—along with some of their family members—who were scheduled to be released soon.

Two fighter jets attacked in sequence, each dropping two bombs on the exact same spot. The Arakan Army described the incident as a “fascist terrorist” act by the junta, accusing them of intentionally bombing their own captured personnel and civilian family members.

The attack caused immediate fatalities and injuries among the POWs and their relatives. The AA stated that a detailed list of the killed and injured would be released in a follow-up announcement.

This airstrike is part of the escalating pattern of junta aerial bombardment in Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army has consolidated significant territorial control amid the ongoing civil conflict. Local sources and media outlets, including Narinjara News, confirmed explosions around 7:30 PM near Chaung Tu village along the Sittwe-Yangon road.

The Arakan Army has condemned the strike as a potential violation of international humanitarian law, given that prisoners of war and accompanying civilians are protected persons under the Geneva Conventions. As of January 21, 2026, the military junta has not issued any public statement regarding this specific incident.

The Arakan Army continues to call for international attention to such repeated attacks on civilians and protected individuals in the region.