At least 30 people have been killed and around 70 others injured after an air strike by Myanmar’s military government targeted a major hospital in western Rakhine state, according to the Arakan Army, aid workers, and eyewitness accounts. The strike marks one of the deadliest attacks on civilian infrastructure since the outbreak of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war.
The Mrauk U General Hospital, a 300-bed facility, was reportedly overflowing with patients at the time of the bombing, according to aid worker Wai Hun Aung. Local sources and rebel spokespeople described the facility as being completely destroyed, with collapsed roofs, shattered columns, and casualties scattered across the site.
Eyewitness Accounts and Casualties
Khine Thu Kha, a spokesman for the Arakan Army, told Reuters:
“The high number of casualties occurred because the hospital took a direct hit. The Mrauk U General Hospital was completely destroyed.”
A 23-year-old resident of Mrauk U recounted witnessing the devastation firsthand:
“When I arrived, the hospital was on fire. I saw many bodies lying around and many injured people.”
Aid worker Wai Hun Aung confirmed at least 31 deaths and 68 injuries, warning that these numbers are likely to rise as more victims are discovered.
Background: Myanmar Civil War
Myanmar has been engulfed in conflict since the military suppressed protests against the 2021 coup, which unseated the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Resistance groups, alongside major ethnic armies such as the Arakan Army, have been fighting government forces across multiple regions, including Rakhine state.
Since a ceasefire broke down in 2023, the Arakan Army has gained control of 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships, consolidating an area larger than Belgium, according to analysis by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Despite this, the military has ramped up air attacks on civilian and rebel-held areas, using its air force to target hospitals, villages, and infrastructure.
Escalation of Air Strikes
Al Jazeera correspondent Tony Cheng reported that air attacks have become a near-daily occurrence. “We heard overnight a loud explosion a couple of villages over. What we understand is that a military jet dropped a 1,000-pound bomb,” he said.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows a sharp increase in air strikes this year, with 2,165 strikes from January to November 2025, compared with 1,716 strikes during the entire 2024 year.
Residents have resorted to using bomb shelters in almost every household, highlighting the widespread impact of the conflict on daily life in rebel-held areas.
Humanitarian Impact
The bombing of Mrauk U General Hospital has left the local population without adequate medical care, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state. Most healthcare services have been suspended due to the fighting, leaving civilians vulnerable to injury, disease, and displacement.
The attack is drawing international concern over potential violations of international humanitarian law, as hospitals are protected facilities under global conventions.
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