At least 12 people lost their lives in an airstrike on Monday night in Marauk U town under the western Rakhine state of Myanmar.

According to locals, the attack took place around 11:00 pm. Rakhine state has been embroiled in conflict for some time now, where the army has been fighting with rebel groups. Khaing Thu Kha, the spokesperson of the Arakan Army of the Vidohi group, also confirmed that 12 people, including five children, were killed and 20 others were injured in the incident. The country has been in a civil war since the army took power in 2023 after ousting the then elected government.

Maung Than Chai, a local resident, said that she had lost her three grandchildren in the attack and said, "This has become the most painful event in my life. We have no food, no place to stay, no utensils, no money." Everything was destroyed. On Tuesday morning, at least 10 bodies were publicly laid out for last rites.

Out of 17 cities in Rakhine State, only 3 cities are currently under the control of the Myanmar army. Although the army plans to conduct the elections in stages from November 12, the rebel group Arakan Army has already announced that they will not allow the elections to be held in their area of ​​influence. There have been serious allegations of human rights violations against both the military forces and the rebel groups in the Rakhine region since the past. In the last few months, about 20 percent of the people have been displaced due to the effects of the conflict.