Junta Airstrikes Target Religious and Civilian Sites in Thaton Township and Western Mon State

May 5, 2025

On the night of May 3, 2025, the Moe Kaung Cement Bridge, located on the Yangon–Mawlamyine highway in Thaton Township, Mon State, was destroyed by an explosion, reportedly caused by a landmine. Less than 14 hours later, on May 4 at around 1:00 PM, junta air force jets launched aerial attacks in the surrounding area, according to a commander from the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 1.

The KNU officer stated, “After the bridge was blown up, junta jet fighters circled the area the next day and dropped bombs. We believe they targeted the Shwe Yaung Pya hilltop monastery school, assuming our troops were stationed there.” The site includes a pagoda, a monastery building, and a monk who was observing Buddhist Lent at the time. Fortunately, the monk was not in the monastery during the bombing. “We’re still not sure about the extent of the damage to the monastery, but since no one was present, there shouldn’t be casualties,” the commander added.

Later that same day, in another disturbing incident, a public hospital in Phalang Taung village—within KNU-controlled Thaton District—was completely destroyed in a junta airstrike at midnight. Local sources and KNU officials confirmed that the hospital was directly hit by junta jet fighters, leading to total structural collapse. Two nearby shops were also damaged in the attack.

“These are not military targets. Phalang Taung Hospital was serving civilians in the region, including patients with chronic illness and displaced families,” said a local resident who spoke to Salween Press. “Now it’s gone.”

These attacks highlight a deeply concerning trend: the Junta’s escalating disregard for civilian lives and international humanitarian law. The deliberate bombing of a civilian hospital and a religious site—neither of which was in conflict zones or near active clashes—points to an ongoing campaign of terror against innocent people.

Junta forces have recently intensified military operations in Thaton Township, western Mon State, and along the eastern Bago border region. Dozens of villages have faced artillery shelling, arbitrary arrests, and now aerial bombings. Civilians, including children, religious leaders, and medical workers, are among those most affected. These deliberate strikes violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on protected civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and religious sites.

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland strongly condemns these brutal attacks. As the Junta continues to lose territory to resistance forces, they appear increasingly reliant on air power to intimidate and punish communities they can no longer control on the ground. This pattern reflects not only military desperation but also a sustained campaign of collective punishment, which international actors and justice-seeking mechanisms must address.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News