Military airstrikes kill three children in heavy bombardment of Mindat Township

A devastating wave of military junta airstrikes killed three girls under the age of 10 in Mindat Township in Chin State, according to local residents and aid workers, as the military unleashed 37 bombs across the region in a single day. A junta jet fighter targeted Shaim village at approximately 5:30 am on 29 June while residents were still asleep. Three bombs directly struck residential homes, killing the young girls instantly and leaving several other villagers injured. Local aid workers assisting displaced persons confirmed that the deadly strike took place far from any active combat zone, catching the civilians entirely off guard. The wounded are currently receiving emergency medical treatment, while grief-stricken residents took to social media to mourn the sudden, tragic loss of the children. Later that day, at around 5:15 pm, the junta’s jet fighters reportedly bombed areas near Mindat town twice, dropping four bombs, according to HKL, which monitors news from Mindat. Additionally, between 6:35 pm and 7:20 pm, a Y12 aircraft conducted 11 bombing runs over eastern Mindat, dropping three bombs each time. The extent of the damage or casualties from these later attacks is not yet known. Since 29 May, battles have been ongoing between junta forces, advancing from Kyaukhtu in Magway Region, and local Chin revolutionary forces and their allies, as the junta attempts to regain control of Mindat. The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) stated that despite a strong ground offensive, the junta has not been able to secure the township and is resorting to excessive aerial bombardment. According to CHRO records, from 11 April to 22 June, military aircraft conducted 168 flights over Mindat, carrying out 440 bombing attacks. Forty-five percent of these attacks occurred within a four-day period, with the highest single-day count at 91 air strikes.