At least 15 civilians, including an infant, have been killed and 32 others wounded in a series of Myanmar military airstrikes targeting residential areas and civilian facilities in Rakhine and Karenni states, according to local media reports.

The attacks took place on Sunday across four townships in Rakhine State, hitting residential neighborhoods and a maternity facility in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Kyaukphyu. At least 12 people were killed in the attacks, The Irrawaddy reported on Monday.

The violence also spread to eastern Myanmar, where a military airstrike struck a school in Loikaw township of Karenni State on Saturday. Three children were killed and eight others injured while attending a nutrition programme during a school holiday.

According to Anadolu Ajansi, the latest attacks come as Myanmar's armed conflict continues to take a heavy toll on civilians, with airstrikes increasingly affecting populated areas and essential civilian facilities.

Myanmar has been gripped by escalating conflict since February 2021, when the military, led by Min Aung Hlaing, seized power from the elected government. The takeover triggered widespread resistance, which has since developed into a nationwide conflict involving ethnic armed organisations and other anti-military forces.

Rakhine State has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting, particularly as the Arakan Army has expanded its control across large parts of the region. The conflict has also raised serious concerns over the safety of the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority who have endured decades of persecution, violence and displacement.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar over the years, with more than one million currently living in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh. The latest violence adds to concerns about the prospects for civilian protection and the possibility of a safe and dignified return for the displaced population.

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