At least 24 people were killed and more than 45 injured when explosives were dropped on civilians attending a religious festival in Chaung-U township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. Witnesses reported that a “motorized paraglider” was used to deliver two bombs on the crowd gathered to mark a national holiday. The United Nations condemned the incident, emphasizing that the indiscriminate use of airborne munitions is unacceptable and calling on all parties to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Sagaing has been one of the regions most affected by violence following the February 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government. The area has also faced compounded humanitarian needs after a severe earthquake earlier this year. According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), Sagaing has experienced the highest number of airstrikes and civilian deaths nationwide, with over 108 airstrikes reported between March and May 2025 alone, resulting in at least 89 fatalities. The Myanmar military has increasingly relied on air power, including paramotor tactics capable of carrying 120mm mortar rounds, to target civilian-populated and earthquake-affected areas despite announcing temporary ceasefires for rescue operations.
The situation reflects a broader pattern of deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure across Myanmar. Since the coup, at least 6,764 civilian deaths and more than 29,000 political arrests have been documented. Nearly half of all verified civilian deaths between April 2024 and May 2025 were caused by aerial attacks, particularly in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Shan regions. OHCHR reports widespread destruction of homes, schools, markets, places of worship, and camps for displaced persons, along with extrajudicial killings and mutilations, raising serious concerns about potential war crimes.
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