Military intensifies airstrikes in Mytikyina, killing 3 children under 10 and displacing thousands

Three girls under the age of 10 have died as the interim government forces have intensified their airstrikes in Mytikyina Township, Chin State, local residents told the Irrawaddy Times. Around 5 a.m. on June 29, the interim government forces carried out airstrikes on Shinn Village in the eastern part of Mytikyina Township using jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft that took off from the Taungoo Air Base. A local resident told the Irrawaddy Times, "About 40 bombs were dropped in the eastern part of Mytikyina in one day. Bombs fell on villages and their surroundings, and civilians were hit by bomb fragments." As a result of these airstrikes, three girls under the age of 10 died instantly in Shinn Village, and many other civilians sustained serious injuries. Furthermore, on the morning of June 30, a Y-12 aircraft from Taungoo Air Base dropped 24 bombs on the eastern part of Mytikyina Township, carrying out another attack. Mytikyina Township had previously been subjected to a record-breaking attack on June 17, with over 70 bombs weighing 500 pounds dropped within an hour. Currently, the interim government forces are reinforcing the artillery regiment in Chaukhtu with ammunition and troops, and are also intensifying ground offensives. Due to the combined aerial and ground attacks by the interim government forces, thousands of residents from over 20 villages in Mytikyina Township have been forced to flee to the mountains and forests to escape the fighting. Photo caption: Children who died due to airstrikes.