Six people, including two children and a Buddhist monk, have tragically lost their lives after a Junta airstrike targeted a Buddhist monastery and market in Mongmit District in northern Shan State. The attack, which occurred in Moe Loung village, also resulted in seven people sustaining injuries, despite no recent fighting reported in the area.

A resident from the township reported that the shells caused significant damage to the Pouk Mon monastery and the nearby market, instantly claiming the lives of five men, including the monk.

Hours before the airstrike, the Kachin Independence Army and People’s Defense Force were meeting in a village close to Moe Loung. These groups seized control of Manpeng town in the third week of January. The Military Council imposed martial law in Manpeng (aka Mabine) and Mongmit townships a month later.

Moe Loung village is on the banks of the Shweli River; the area borders with Sagaing Region and is also close to Kachin State.

Among those killed by the junta’s airstrike were U Naing Win Cho (36), U Chit Htwe (37), Maung Tein Yan Moe (27), Maung Lin Khant Naing (16), and Maung Fusel (5).