Bangkok, Jan 24: A Myanmar military airstrike on Hteelin village, Kachin state, killed 21 people and injured 28, including an infant, according to the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local media. The strike targeted a displaced persons’ camp, a school, a village market, and a prayer gathering, where around 500 residents were sheltering. Images circulated by local media showed extensive damage and casualties, though independent verification remains limited due to disrupted communications. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, sparking widespread armed resistance from pro-democracy militias and ethnic groups like the KIA. The military has intensified airstrikes against these groups, resulting in over 7,700 deaths since the coup. The airstrike occurred just days before the final round of Myanmar’s three-phase elections in Bhamo township, which critics say are neither free nor fair due to political repression and the exclusion of major parties. KIA forces reportedly control downtown Bhamo, casting doubt on whether voting can take place.Bangkok, Jan 24: A Myanmar military airstrike on Hteelin village, Kachin state, killed 21 people and injured 28, including an infant, according to the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local media. The strike targeted a displaced persons’ camp, a school, a village market, and a prayer gathering, where around 500 residents were sheltering. Images circulated by local media showed extensive damage and casualties, though independent verification remains limited due to disrupted communications. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, sparking widespread armed resistance from pro-democracy militias and ethnic groups like the KIA. The military has intensified airstrikes against these groups, resulting in over 7,700 deaths since the coup. The airstrike occurred just days before the final round of Myanmar’s three-phase elections in Bhamo township, which critics say are neither free nor fair due to political repression and the exclusion of major parties. KIA forces reportedly control downtown Bhamo, casting doubt on whether voting can take place.