Myanmar junta airstrike : 20 killed at wedding

A junta airstrike on a wedding reception at a monastery in Magwe Region’s Myaing Township on Tuesday killed at least 20 civilians and injured dozens more, according to local sources.

A member of the Myaing People's Defense Team (PDT) said the bombs struck an area where people were preparing food for the wedding, causing heavy casualties.

The monastery was completely destroyed after two 500-pound bombs were dropped by junta planes, reports The Irrawaddy.

"As of now, the death toll stands at around 20, with many others injured. The attack happened at a crowded time, which is why the casualties are so high," a resident said.

The junta has intensified aerial bombardments in Magwe, using both planes and paramotors to drop explosives, according to Burma News International.

Meanwhile, the regime’s state-run newspaper has accused businesspeople of financing what it calls "terrorist groups" and profiting from resource extraction in conflict zones.

The military considers ethnic armed groups and People's Defense Forces (PDFs) to be "terrorist groups," as they control key resource sites, including oil fields, gem and jade mines, and rare earth deposits in Shan and Kachin states, as well as parts of central Myanmar.

In an effort to cut off funding to resistance forces, the junta has ordered workers in mines located in areas under rebel control to leave.

Myanmar has been in civil war since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in February 2021.