DEADLY MYANMAR AIRSTRIKE HITS MARKET IN RAKHINE, KILLING AT LEAST 49

September 29, 2026

A Myanmar military airstrike near a market in Kyauktaw township of western Rakhine State has killed at least 49 people and injured 58 others, according to the Arakan Army and local rescue officials. Twenty-two of those injured were reported to be in critical condition.

The strike reportedly took place around midday on September 28, when a fighter jet dropped two bombs near a crowded local market and an adjacent bridge. Vendors, shoppers and pedestrians were among those reported killed. Images from the area showed damaged vehicles, burning buildings and sections of the bridge destroyed.

Kyauktaw is controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organisation that has captured much of Rakhine State during its conflict with Myanmar's military. The Arakan Army attributed the attack to the military and warned of possible retaliation. Myanmar's military did not immediately comment on the incident, while it has previously said its air operations target legitimate military objectives.

The reported death toll increased from an initial figure of 33 as rescue operations continued. The attack has been described by a senior Rakhine rescue official as one of the most severe airstrikes in the state. The incident comes amid Myanmar's continuing civil war, which began following the military takeover in February 2021.

The latest violence adds to the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, where fighting and restrictions on trade routes have contributed to shortages and large-scale displacement. The United Nations has estimated that nearly half a million people have been displaced in the state.