Mrauk U airstrikes force locals to spend the night in bomb shelters

Photo – Fighter jets of the military air force displayed at the 77th Anniversary ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw on March 27, 2022. (AFP) By Phorn Htoun (August 5) Mizzima. The Myanmar military dropped bombs for about thirty minutes on former military outposts in Mrauk U, Rakhine State, forcing locals to hide in bomb shelters in fear and spend the night there, according to local residents. It is reported that the military used three fighter jets and a Y-12 transport aircraft to drop more than 40 bombs on the former military outposts of the 540th Infantry Battalion and the 31st Police Battalion in Mrauk U city, starting around 10 PM yesterday (August 4). "More than 10 bombs were dropped by fighter jets on 540 and 31, and more than 30 by Y-12. We had to hide in the bomb shelters in great fear. They kept bombing continuously for about half an hour, and we couldn't even lift our heads. It was terrifying to see one plane after another coming and dropping bombs one after another. It was like the end of the world," a male resident of Mrauk U told Mizzima. It has not yet been independently confirmed as of this morning (August 5) whether there were any civilian casualties near the 540th Infantry Battalion and the 31st Police Battalion due to the airstrikes. A male resident of Mrauk U also said, "So far, I haven't heard of any civilian casualties. The SAC troops mainly targeted the places where they had previously stationed. However, the people were unable to sleep all night, watching and fearing further bombing attacks." Mrauk U city, an ancient cultural heritage site, was completely captured by the Arakan Army (AA) on February 28, 2024. The military had previously carried out airstrikes on civilian targets in Mrauk U city. It is reported that on the night of December 10, 2025, two 500-pound bombs were dropped on Mrauk U General Hospital, killing more than 30 healthcare workers and patients, and severely injuring nearly 80 people. Editor: Naung Naung