A Burma Army air strike on January 10, 2026, in Ler Doh Soe Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, killed a two-year-old girl and injured nine villagers, including another young child, according to local reports. The attack occurred in Aa— village, part of the K’Maw Thway village tract, and struck the compound of the Karen National Union (KNU) township office.

Attack Details and Casualties

The air strike took place between 1 and 2 p.m. local time, when a fighter jet from the Burma Army, identified as a sky-blue aircraft, flew over Aa— village from the eastern side and dropped two 250-pound bombs. The bombs landed within 7 to 9 meters of each other, close to the KNU office compound. The aircraft also fired bullets from an Oerlikon mounted cannon during the attack.

The attack killed Naw A—, a two-year-old girl, and injured nine others, including seven women, a man, and a two-year-old girl named B—. Naw A— was killed by the blast, sustaining an injury to her right shoulder before dying inside a house in the KNU compound. B—, the daughter of a member of the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO), suffered a head injury.

According to local sources, the victims were in the KNU office compound waiting for legal proceedings when the attack occurred. The KWO had been assisting Naw A— and her mother with a legal case, though specific details about the case were censored for security reasons.

Injuries and Aftermath

The other seven injured individuals were identified as civil servants under the Burma Army’s military regime. They had participated in the 2025 junta election in Ab— Town and were arrested by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Battalion #10 in December 2025. They were detained at the KNU township office compound and could not leave the village until the attack on January 10.

The injured individuals received treatment from the Karen Department of Health Welfare (KDHW) health workers at the KNU compound. A local KNU township authority leader released them after the attack, citing fears for the safety of the village.

The names of the injured civil servants are as follows: Ma C— (37), Ma D— (50), Ma E— (39), Ma F— (52), Ma G— (45), Ma H— (27), Ma I— (46), and Ko J— (33). Specific details about their injuries are unknown to researchers from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG).

Impact on the Community

The air strike damaged a clinic administered by the KDHW in Aa— village and villagers’ plantation fields. The attack also caused fear among the local population, prompting students and teachers to flee to safer areas to continue their studies. In some villages, students were rushed to complete their exams earlier than originally planned.

Some villagers were too afraid to remain in Aa— village and moved to their plantation fields, which are farther from the village. The attack has intensified the already tense situation in the region, where the Karen National Union has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Burma Army.

Local authorities reported that the air strike was conducted by an aircraft originating from Bleik (Myeik) Town, Ler Muh Lah Township, Mergui-Tavoy District. The aircraft flew from the eastern side of Aa— village, executed the attack, and then departed to the western side.

The incident has drawn international attention, with humanitarian organizations and human rights groups condemning the attack as a violation of civilian protection norms. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation into the incident, citing concerns over the escalating violence in the region.