ASEANNETWORKNEWS| An airstrike reportedly carried out by Myanmar’s military struck a market in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, on September 28, 2026, killing at least 50 people and injuring 58 others, according to local aid workers and the Arakan Army.
The attack occurred around midday when the market was crowded with traders and shoppers. The area is controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organization fighting Myanmar’s military in Rakhine State.
The strike reportedly hit an area around the market and a nearby bridge in Kyauktaw. The Arakan Army said a Myanmar military aircraft dropped two bombs in the area.
Initial reports put the death toll at 33, with 36 people injured. The number later increased after rescuers recovered additional bodies, according to reports.
The victims reportedly included traders, shoppers, transport workers and other residents who were in the area when the attack occurred. The United Nations said at least 50 people were reportedly killed, including women and children, while 58 others were injured.
Kyauktaw’s market is one of the main commercial centers in the area and is regularly visited by traders and residents from surrounding parts of Rakhine State.
Myanmar’s military had not issued an immediate response to the reports of the airstrike at the time of the initial reports. The military has previously said its operations target legitimate military objectives and that it seeks to avoid civilian casualties.
The Arakan Army has controlled Kyauktaw and several other areas in Rakhine State. The group launched a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in November 2023 and has since taken control of large parts of the state.
The United Nations has expressed serious concern over the reported attack, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law. The UN also warned that the casualty figures could rise.
Myanmar has been experiencing an armed conflict since the military seized power in February 2021. Rakhine State has become a major front in the fighting between the military and the Arakan Army.
The conflict has resulted in widespread displacement and a worsening humanitarian situation. Because Kyauktaw is located in an active conflict zone, information about casualties and the circumstances surrounding individual attacks can be difficult to independently verify.
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