The attack struck Yoengu village in Ponnagyun township, roughly 33 kilometers northeast of Sittwe, the state capital. The village has been under the control of the Arakan Army (AA) since March 2024, making it a flashpoint in the country’s widening civil war.

The Democratic Voice of Burma reported that 17 people lost their lives and at least 14 others were injured when bombs fell on the village Tuesday. The Arakan Army released a statement listing the names of 17 ‘innocent civilians,’ among them three children, and said 15 others were wounded.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos and heartbreak. ‘It was really bad,’ said Pyae Phyo Naing, chairman of the Ponnagyun Youths Association. ‘Some people were crying, while many dead bodies were scattered over the area. Some houses were still burning when we arrived.’

He said four or five buildings were reduced to ashes. Survivors fled in panic as smoke curled into the sky and flames devoured wooden homes. For many, it was another day of fear in a conflict that shows no sign of easing.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been in deep political turmoil since the military seized power in a coup in 2021. The crackdown on peaceful protests soon spiraled into a nationwide rebellion. What began as civil disobedience has hardened into armed resistance, drawing in democracy activists and long-established ethnic armed groups.

Rakhine State, historically known as Arakan, has become one of the hardest-hit regions. The Arakan Army now controls most of the state, while the military continues to launch air strikes and enforce a tight blockade. The standoff has squeezed ordinary people from both sides.

According to the United Nations, thousands have been killed since the coup, and about 3.6 million people have been displaced. Aid agencies warn that hunger is rising at an alarming pace. The World Food Programme has previously cautioned that the blockade and cuts to international assistance have led to a sharp increase in malnutrition across the state.

The latest strike comes just weeks after a military backed election victory was dismissed by international observers as a ‘sham,’ further deepening the country’s political divide.

For residents of Rakhine, however, the headlines feel distant. What remains close is the echo of warplanes overhead, the sudden roar of explosions, and the fragile hope that tomorrow might pass in silence.