A Myanmar military airstrike killed at least 13 people and wounded more than a dozen others in the rebel-controlled town of Mogok on Saturday morning, according to local sources and armed opposition groups.

The strike hit a public area around 8:15 AM, where civilians were out on the streets. A local resident said seven people died instantly, while six others died later from their injuries. Among the dead were a Buddhist monk collecting alms and a father and son riding a motorbike. “A car passing through was also hit,” the resident added. “Seven people were wounded, including the driver.”

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which has controlled Mogok since mid-2024, confirmed the death toll and reported 14 people injured. “It was a public area and there were many people walking. That’s why the casualties were high,” said TNLA spokesman Lway Yay Oo.

Mogok is Myanmar’s ruby mining hub, known globally for its precious stones. The region is now a key battleground in the country’s civil war, with control over gemstone and mineral resources fueling both sides of the conflict. The junta frequently uses air power to target areas held by resistance forces, which often results in high civilian casualties.

Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been in a state of civil war. Pro-democracy fighters have joined with ethnic armed groups in a nationwide resistance. A major offensive launched in late 2023 saw rebel forces seize large areas, including Mogok.

In response, the junta has introduced conscription and retaken key areas like Thabeikkyin, a gold mining town. Despite this, heavy clashes continue across the country.

On Thursday, the junta formally ended the state of emergency it imposed after the coup and announced elections in December. But with Aung San Suu Kyi still imprisoned and major opposition groups refusing to participate, many—including a UN expert—see the planned polls as a sham to legitimize military rule.

BOB Post