Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 22 January 2025

More than 100 people were killed in a series of airstrikes conducted by the military junta targeting detention centers, where the prisoners of war (PoW) were temporarily detained by the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine (Arakan) State.

The casualties included both PoWs and their relatives with over 120 others injured, said a statement issued by the AA.

On 18 January, the junta soldiers conducted three airstrikes on PoW detention sites in Yan Chaung of Mrauk-U township killing 28 women and children and injuring 25 others.

In another incident on 9 September 2024, the junta’s airstrikes on the 2nd border guard police battalion (NaKhaKha-2) in Maungdaw, where PoWs were held, resulted in the death of over 50 PoWs under the AA custody and left at least 80 others injured.

Additionally on 8 September 2024, the junta soldiers launched airstrikes with a fighter jet on a temporary medical center for PoWs and other prisoners in Shin village of Pauktaw township, killing 17 PoWs and seriously injuring 10 others.

A human rights activist from Arakan State condemned the actions, stating that these are extremely serious constituting war crimes. The soldiers  are driven by spite towards the surrendered PoWs and seem to silence them.

In recent months, the junta forces have been conducting frequent airstrikes on civilian areas in the Arakan region resulting in more than 60 deaths and at least 87 injuries between 31 December 2024 and 18 January 2025.

On 8 January, the junta soldiers carried out airstrikes on Kyauk Ni Maw of Ramree township, killing 26 civilians and injuring 27 others. 

More airstrikes took place on 11 January in Kyauktaw locality resulting in a number of casualties.