Myanmar Airstrikes Kill at Least 15 Including Newborn Baby and Students
At least 15 people have been killed in a series of Myanmar military airstrikes, including a newborn baby, healthcare workers and three students, according to an ethnic armed group, an aid worker and human rights monitors.
The attacks reportedly struck several locations across Rakhine and Kayah states over the weekend, including a makeshift maternity clinic and a school where students were attending classes.
The reports emerged on Monday, November 2, 2026, as Myanmar's military intensifies its campaign against armed resistance groups controlling large areas of the country.
The attacks have renewed international concerns about civilian safety and the growing use of airstrikes in Myanmar's ongoing civil war.
Newborn Baby Killed in Maternity Clinic Attack
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One of the most disturbing incidents occurred in Mrauk-U, a town in western Rakhine State.
According to Reuters, an airstrike hit a makeshift clinic and maternity ward being used by residents in territory controlled by the Arakan Army.
The attack reportedly killed at least five people, including a week-old baby girl and four other people, among them healthcare workers.
The newborn's twin survived the attack.
Local aid worker Wai Hun Aung said the baby was expected to return home with her family the following day before the building collapsed following the explosion.
The attack also reportedly injured several other people and damaged the medical facility.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare facilities and vulnerable patients caught in the conflict.
Three Students Killed in School Airstrike
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Another deadly attack reportedly occurred in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, near Myanmar's border with Thailand.
The Karenni Human Rights Group said an airstrike hit a school while classes were taking place, killing three students and injuring five others.
According to the organisation and local officials, a military transport aircraft and a fighter jet dropped more than 20 bombs on the school.
Local representatives said there were no military movements or clashes near the school at the time of the attack.
A representative of the Karenni Interim Executive Council condemned the bombing and described the targeting of a school as a possible war crime.
The reported incident has increased concerns about the protection of children and educational facilities during the conflict.
Multiple Townships Hit by Airstrikes
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The attacks were not limited to Mrauk-U and Loikaw.
According to an Arakan Army spokesperson and a local aid worker, Myanmar's military carried out airstrikes across four townships in western Rakhine State on Sunday.
The reported targets included:
- A bridge in Kyauktaw.
- Locations in Kyaukpyu.
- Locations in Pauktaw.
- A makeshift clinic and maternity ward in Mrauk-U.
At least 12 people were reportedly killed and 32 injured in the Rakhine State attacks.
Combined with the three reported student deaths in Loikaw, the reported death toll across the two states reached at least 15.
The figures were provided by local sources and rights monitors and have not been independently verified in full.
Myanmar Military Yet to Comment on the Latest Attacks
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A spokesperson for Myanmar's military-backed government did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the latest airstrikes.
The military has previously described its operations as legitimate action against groups it considers terrorists.
However, opposition organisations and international investigators have repeatedly accused the military of carrying out attacks that put civilians at risk.
In August 2026, United Nations investigators accused Myanmar's military of deliberate aerial attacks against civilian buildings, including schools and hospitals.
Myanmar's Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations, saying the military exercised maximum restraint to avoid civilian casualties.
Myanmar's Civil War Has Displaced Millions
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Myanmar has experienced widespread violence since the military removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 2021 coup.
The takeover triggered a nationwide conflict involving the military, pro-democracy resistance groups and several ethnic armed organisations.
The United Nations estimates that the conflict has killed approximately 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million.
The military has struggled to regain control of territories captured by resistance groups and increasingly relies on airstrikes to target areas outside its control.
Rakhine State has experienced particularly intense fighting between government forces and the Arakan Army.
The latest attacks follow another deadly wave of airstrikes in September, when at least 58 people were reportedly killed at displacement camps in Rakhine State.
Fighting Also Raises Concerns Along Thailand's Border
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The conflict has also created security concerns for neighbouring Thailand.
Thai authorities reported that fighting in Myanmar had spilled across the border, damaging homes and injuring at least one person on the Thai side.
Thai fighter jets have conducted air patrols as the government monitors the situation.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand had urged Myanmar to exercise caution and ensure the fighting did not threaten Thai territory.
The situation highlights how Myanmar's internal conflict could create wider regional security and humanitarian challenges.
International Concerns Grow Over Civilian Casualties
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The latest reports have renewed calls for the protection of civilians, particularly children, healthcare workers and patients.
International humanitarian law provides special protection for medical facilities and schools, provided they retain their protected civilian status. Deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects may constitute serious violations of international law.
Independent investigations would be needed to establish the circumstances of each reported strike and determine whether any specific violation occurred.