At least 18 to 20 people were killed when airstrikes hit a crowded teashop in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, according to local officials and rescue workers who spoke to international media. The attack, which struck Tabayin township on Friday evening, is one of the deadliest incidents reported in recent months as the country’s civil conflict intensifies.

 

Witnesses said two bombs were dropped directly onto the teashop, a popular gathering spot where dozens of residents had assembled to watch a replay of a women’s national football match. Local authorities told reporters that the youngest victim was just five years old, while the oldest was 77, and warned that the death toll is likely to rise.

 

Initial counts vary slightly, with some officials reporting 18 deaths and around 20 wounded, while others put the number of fatalities at more than 20 and the injured at 30. A rescue worker who arrived minutes after the blast said seven people died instantly, and several more succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

 

The strike also destroyed the teashop and around a dozen nearby homes, leaving the centre of the village in ruins.

 

Local officials and residents who spoke to reporters blamed the ruling military junta for carrying out the attack, though the junta has not issued any public comment. Airstrikes have become a frequent tactic since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, triggering nationwide resistance and a prolonged civil war. Many of these strikes have hit civilian areas, despite international condemnation.

 

Sagaing region, a stronghold of anti‑coup resistance, has faced some of the heaviest bombardments over the past two years. Rights groups and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that the junta’s use of air power is causing mass displacement and mounting civilian casualties.

 

Friday’s attack has renewed calls for stronger international action, though Myanmar remains largely isolated diplomatically. With communication lines restricted and independent access limited, verifying casualty figures and assessing the full scale of destruction remains difficult.

 

What is clear, however, is that the strike on Tabayin marks another grim chapter in a conflict that shows no sign of easing. For the families who lost loved ones in a place meant for community and respite, the war has once again arrived without warning.

 

 

-2025-12-08

 

I thought Trump had sorted all this...........🤔