Myanmar's military junta denied on Saturday killing civilians in a hospital air strike that left more than 30 people dead. A military jet bombed late Wednesday the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, two aid workers said.&nbsp;"Those killed or injured were not civilians, but terrorists and their supporters," said an article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).&nbsp;The ruling junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of the country's civil war, conflict monitors say, after seizing power in a 2021 coup ending a decade-long experiment with democracy. The United Nations on Thursday demanded an investigation, saying the attack could constitute a war crime. Health workers and patients were killed, and "hospital infrastructure was severely damaged, with operating rooms and the main inpatient ward completely destroyed," said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.&nbsp;Rakhine state is controlled almost in its entirety by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority separatist force active long before the military toppled the civilian government of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The separatist force&nbsp;said in a statement that 33 people were killed and 76 wounded in the strike. People's Defence Forces (PDF) have also risen up to oppose the military coup four years ago.&nbsp;The junta "carried out necessary security measures and launched a Counter-Terrorism Operation on 10 December against the buildings being used as a base by AA and PDF terrorists," GNLM said.

Myanmar's military junta denied on Saturday killing civilians in a hospital air strike that left more than 30 people dead. 

Myanmar's military junta denied on Saturday killing civilians in a hospital air strike that left more than 30 people dead. A military jet bombed late Wednesday the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, two aid workers said. "Those killed or injured were not civilians, but terrorists and their supporters," said an article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM). The ruling junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of the country's civil war, conflict monitors say, after seizing power in a 2021 coup ending a decade-long experiment with democracy. The United Nations on Thursday demanded an investigation, saying the attack could constitute a war crime. Health workers and patients were killed, and "hospital infrastructure was severely damaged, with operating rooms and the main inpatient ward completely destroyed," said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X. Rakhine state is controlled almost in its entirety by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority separatist force active long before the military toppled the civilian government of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The separatist force said in a statement that 33 people were killed and 76 wounded in the strike. People's Defence Forces (PDF) have also risen up to oppose the military coup four years ago. The junta "carried out necessary security measures and launched a Counter-Terrorism Operation on 10 December against the buildings being used as a base by AA and PDF terrorists," GNLM said.

Myanmar's military junta denied on Saturday killing civilians in a hospital air strike that left more than 30 people dead.&nbsp;

Myanmar junta denies killing civilians in hospital strike in Rakhine

A Myanmar military air strike killed more than 30 people at a hospital, an aid worker said Thursday, as the junta wages a withering offensive ahead of elections beginning this month. The junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of Myanmar's civil war, conflict monitors say, after snatching power in a 2021 putsch ending a decade-long democratic experiment. A junta spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.&nbsp;&nbsp;The military has set polls starting December 28 -- touting the vote as an off-ramp to fighting -- but rebels have pledged to block it from territory they control, which the junta is battling to claw back. A military jet bombed the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, on Wednesday evening, said aid worker Wai Hun Aung.&nbsp;"The situation is very terrible," he said, after arriving at the scene on Thursday morning. “As for now, we can confirm there are 31 deaths and we think there will be more deaths. Also there are 68 wounded and will be more and more.”&nbsp;At least 20 shrouded bodies were visible on the ground overnight outside the hospital, where daybreak revealed a whole wing gutted by the blast with rubble and debris covering ward beds. A large tree outside appeared half-felled by the force of the explosion, while a wide crater had marred the soil outside as bodies were gathered for funerals. Local carpenter Maung Bu Chay said the strike killed three of his loved ones -- his wife, daughter-in-law and her father. "I heard the explosion from my village," said the 61-year-old. “I spent the entire night not knowing where the bombs had landed.” "When someone informed me they were in the completely destroyed building, I realised they hadn't survived," he added. "I have nothing to say. I feel resentful about their act. I feel strong anger and defiance in my heart."&nbsp;Rakhine state is controlled almost in its entirety by the Arakan Army (AA) -- an ethnic minority separatist force active long before the military staged a coup toppling the civilian government of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.&nbsp;&nbsp;A statement by the AA's health department on Wednesday night said 10 hospital patients were "killed on the spot" in the air strike at around 9:00 pm (1430 GMT). The AA has emerged as one of the most powerful opposition groups in the civil war ravaging Myanmar, alongside other ethnic minority fighters and pro-democracy partisans who took up arms after the coup.&nbsp;Scattered rebels initially struggled to make headway before a trio of groups led a joint offensive starting in 2023, backfooting the military and prompting it to bolster its ranks with conscripted troops. The AA was a key participant in the so-called "Three Brotherhood Alliance" but its two other factions this year agreed Chinese-brokered truces, leaving it as the last one standing.&nbsp;While the military-run election has been widely criticised by monitors including the United Nations, Beijing has emerged as a key backer saying it should "restore social stability" to its neighbour. The AA has proven a powerful adversary for the junta and now controls all but three of Rakhine's 17 townships, according to conflict monitors. But the group's ambitions are largely limited to their Rakhine homeland, hemmed in by the coast of the Bay of Bengal and jungle-clad mountains to the north. The group has also been accused of atrocities including against the mostly Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority from the region.&nbsp;Meanwhile the military has blockaded Rakhine, contributing to a humanitarian crisis which has seen "a dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition", the World Food Programme said in August.

A Myanmar military air strike on a hospital in Rakhine’s Mrauk-U killed over 30 people and wounded dozens amid escalating civil war ahead of December elections. The Arakan Army, which controls most of the state, blamed the junta for targeting civilians

A Myanmar military air strike killed more than 30 people at a hospital, an aid worker said Thursday, as the junta wages a withering offensive ahead of elections beginning this month. The junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of Myanmar's civil war, conflict monitors say, after snatching power in a 2021 putsch ending a decade-long democratic experiment. A junta spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment. The military has set polls starting December 28 -- touting the vote as an off-ramp to fighting -- but rebels have pledged to block it from territory they control, which the junta is battling to claw back. A military jet bombed the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, on Wednesday evening, said aid worker Wai Hun Aung. "The situation is very terrible," he said, after arriving at the scene on Thursday morning. “As for now, we can confirm there are 31 deaths and we think there will be more deaths. Also there are 68 wounded and will be more and more.” At least 20 shrouded bodies were visible on the ground overnight outside the hospital, where daybreak revealed a whole wing gutted by the blast with rubble and debris covering ward beds. A large tree outside appeared half-felled by the force of the explosion, while a wide crater had marred the soil outside as bodies were gathered for funerals. Local carpenter Maung Bu Chay said the strike killed three of his loved ones -- his wife, daughter-in-law and her father. "I heard the explosion from my village," said the 61-year-old. “I spent the entire night not knowing where the bombs had landed.” "When someone informed me they were in the completely destroyed building, I realised they hadn't survived," he added. "I have nothing to say. I feel resentful about their act. I feel strong anger and defiance in my heart." Rakhine state is controlled almost in its entirety by the Arakan Army (AA) -- an ethnic minority separatist force active long before the military staged a coup toppling the civilian government of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A statement by the AA's health department on Wednesday night said 10 hospital patients were "killed on the spot" in the air strike at around 9:00 pm (1430 GMT). The AA has emerged as one of the most powerful opposition groups in the civil war ravaging Myanmar, alongside other ethnic minority fighters and pro-democracy partisans who took up arms after the coup. Scattered rebels initially struggled to make headway before a trio of groups led a joint offensive starting in 2023, backfooting the military and prompting it to bolster its ranks with conscripted troops. The AA was a key participant in the so-called "Three Brotherhood Alliance" but its two other factions this year agreed Chinese-brokered truces, leaving it as the last one standing. While the military-run election has been widely criticised by monitors including the United Nations, Beijing has emerged as a key backer saying it should "restore social stability" to its neighbour. The AA has proven a powerful adversary for the junta and now controls all but three of Rakhine's 17 townships, according to conflict monitors. But the group's ambitions are largely limited to their Rakhine homeland, hemmed in by the coast of the Bay of Bengal and jungle-clad mountains to the north. The group has also been accused of atrocities including against the mostly Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority from the region. Meanwhile the military has blockaded Rakhine, contributing to a humanitarian crisis which has seen "a dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition", the World Food Programme said in August.

A Myanmar military air strike on a hospital in Rakhine’s Mrauk-U killed over 30 people and wounded dozens amid escalating civil war ahead of December elections. The Arakan Army, which controls most of the state, blamed the junta for targeting civilians

At least 31 killed in Myanmar junta air strike on hospital - Here's what happened

On Monday (October 6) night in the Chang U township of Myanmar’s Sagaing region, nearly 100 people gathered to observe Thadingyut, a festival celebrating the full moon. The event also doubled as a protest against the military, which seized power in 2021, plunging the country into a civil conflict. What started as a peaceful gathering quickly turned into a nightmare when a paramotor— a small, motorised paraglider— appeared overhead, dropping bombs on the crowd. In just seven minutes, at least 26 people were killed, and dozens more were injured.&nbsp;This bombing was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend. The Myanmar military has increasingly relied on paramotors for airstrikes against resistance groups. These low-tech devices, while seemingly simple, have become a crucial weapon in the junta’s aerial strategy to reassert control over the country.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/h-1b-visa-is-trump-admin-preparing-to-make-it-tougher-to-qualify-here-s-what-you-should-know-1760069316050">H-1B visa: Is Trump admin preparing to make it tougher to qualify? Here's what&nbsp;you&nbsp;should&nbsp;know</a><h2>What is a Paramotor?</h2>A paramotor consists of a pilot suspended beneath a motorised paraglider, which can carry around 160kg (350lb). This allows the paramotor to transport a paratrooper and multiple small bombs. Typically, paramotors are equipped with GPS and carry 120mm bombs weighing up to 16kg each. The paramotor’s ability to fly low and close to its target makes it an ideal weapon for precision strikes. While its speed is relatively slow (about 65 km/h or 40 mph), it is able to fly under 1,000 feet (300 meters), allowing for a high degree of accuracy. These devices are also capable of flying for hours on a regular fuel supply.&nbsp;According to military sources, paramotor pilots can be trained within days, a stark contrast to the years required to train traditional aircraft pilots. This makes them an attractive option for the Myanmar military, especially given the increasing challenges they face with traditional aircraft. While paramotors are cheaper to produce and maintain, they come with their own set of challenges. Their low-altitude flights and slow speed make them vulnerable to gunfire, and they are typically used during the night to minimise visibility.<h2>Widespread use of paramotors</h2>The deadly attack in Chang U is among the deadliest to date but is far from the first. The first documented paramotor bombing happened on Christmas Day in 2024, in Myingyan, a key resistance area. In January 2025 alone, at least eight attacks occurred across multiple townships, leading to several deaths.&nbsp;The military’s aircraft fleet is likely under strain due to high maintenance costs and resource shortages. As such, paramotors offer a cheaper and more efficient alternative for the junta, especially when many of their traditional aircraft are either grounded or too costly to operate. However, these devices are not without their limitations. Their slow speed and noise, often described as similar to a chainsaw, make them easy to hear, giving civilians a brief chance to seek cover. They also struggle in poor weather conditions, limiting their operational window.<h2>Defensive measures</h2>In response to these attacks, some residents have turned to building air raid shelters, though these come at a significant cost. A small bunker suitable for a family can cost as much as 500,000 kyats ($239), a steep price in a country where the minimum wage is around 4,800 kyats per day. In areas with advanced air defenses, paramotors are less effective, but in regions with fewer resources, they have proven to be a lethal and efficient tool for the junta’s ongoing campaign against resistance forces.&nbsp;As Myanmar’s civil war drags on, the use of paramotors by the military signals a disturbing shift toward cheaper, more accessible airstrikes. With increasing losses in conventional aircraft and mounting resource constraints, paramotors are likely to remain a fixture in the junta's brutal tactics for years to come.

Paramotor bombings: Myanmar's military turns to low-tech paragliders for deadly airstrikes. All you need to know about it

On Monday (October 6) night in the Chang U township of Myanmar’s Sagaing region, nearly 100 people gathered to observe Thadingyut, a festival celebrating the full moon. The event also doubled as a protest against the military, which seized power in 2021, plunging the country into a civil conflict. What started as a peaceful gathering quickly turned into a nightmare when a paramotor— a small, motorised paraglider— appeared overhead, dropping bombs on the crowd. In just seven minutes, at least 26 people were killed, and dozens more were injured. This bombing was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend. The Myanmar military has increasingly relied on paramotors for airstrikes against resistance groups. These low-tech devices, while seemingly simple, have become a crucial weapon in the junta’s aerial strategy to reassert control over the country. Also Read: H-1B visa: Is Trump admin preparing to make it tougher to qualify? Here's what you should know What is a Paramotor? A paramotor consists of a pilot suspended beneath a motorised paraglider, which can carry around 160kg (350lb). This allows the paramotor to transport a paratrooper and multiple small bombs. Typically, paramotors are equipped with GPS and carry 120mm bombs weighing up to 16kg each. The paramotor’s ability to fly low and close to its target makes it an ideal weapon for precision strikes. While its speed is relatively slow (about 65 km/h or 40 mph), it is able to fly under 1,000 feet (300 meters), allowing for a high degree of accuracy. These devices are also capable of flying for hours on a regular fuel supply. According to military sources, paramotor pilots can be trained within days, a stark contrast to the years required to train traditional aircraft pilots. This makes them an attractive option for the Myanmar military, especially given the increasing challenges they face with traditional aircraft. While paramotors are cheaper to produce and maintain, they come with their own set of challenges. Their low-altitude flights and slow speed make them vulnerable to gunfire, and they are typically used during the night to minimise visibility. Widespread use of paramotors The deadly attack in Chang U is among the deadliest to date but is far from the first. The first documented paramotor bombing happened on Christmas Day in 2024, in Myingyan, a key resistance area. In January 2025 alone, at least eight attacks occurred across multiple townships, leading to several deaths. The military’s aircraft fleet is likely under strain due to high maintenance costs and resource shortages. As such, paramotors offer a cheaper and more efficient alternative for the junta, especially when many of their traditional aircraft are either grounded or too costly to operate. However, these devices are not without their limitations. Their slow speed and noise, often described as similar to a chainsaw, make them easy to hear, giving civilians a brief chance to seek cover. They also struggle in poor weather conditions, limiting their operational window. Defensive measures In response to these attacks, some residents have turned to building air raid shelters, though these come at a significant cost. A small bunker suitable for a family can cost as much as 500,000 kyats ($239), a steep price in a country where the minimum wage is around 4,800 kyats per day. In areas with advanced air defenses, paramotors are less effective, but in regions with fewer resources, they have proven to be a lethal and efficient tool for the junta’s ongoing campaign against resistance forces. As Myanmar’s civil war drags on, the use of paramotors by the military signals a disturbing shift toward cheaper, more accessible airstrikes. With increasing losses in conventional aircraft and mounting resource constraints, paramotors are likely to remain a fixture in the junta's brutal tactics for years to come.

Paramotors, low-tech but lethal, are now used by Myanmar's military to drop bombs, as part of their aerial campaign amid resource constraints

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Myanmar junta denies killing civilians in hospital strike in Rakhine

At least 31 killed in Myanmar junta air strike on hospital

Paramotor bombings: Myanmar's military turns to paragliders for airstrikes