A rebel bombing in Myanmar's northern Shan state has killed at least 40 people and wounded scores more, in what the UK government has condemned as a brutal escalation by the ruling junta. The attack, which struck a crowded market in the town of Lashio on Tuesday afternoon, is the deadliest since the military seized power in February 2021.
Witnesses described scenes of carnage as a fighter jet dropped two bombs on the bustling market, which was packed with civilians buying food and supplies. The junta claimed the strike targeted a meeting of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed group that has been battling the military. But local residents said the market was filled with ordinary people, not rebels.
“There were bodies everywhere. Women and children. It was a massacre,” said a shopkeeper who survived the blast but lost his brother. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
The UK Foreign Office issued a statement condemning the attack, calling it “a clear violation of international humanitarian law.” It urged the junta to cease all attacks on civilians and allow unimpeded access for aid agencies. The statement also reiterated Britain’s support for the pro-democracy movement and its opposition to the military’s rule.
But for families in Lashio, the condemnation rings hollow. The town, once a bustling hub of jade and gem trade, has been devastated by war. Over 200,000 people have been displaced across Shan state since the coup, according to the UN. Many live in makeshift camps with little food or medicine.
The bombing is the latest atrocity in a conflict that has killed over 3,000 civilians and displaced more than a million. The junta has repeatedly used airstrikes against civilian areas, including schools, hospitals, and markets. In April, a similar strike on a village in Sagaing region killed more than 100 people attending a funeral.
Yet the international response has been largely toothless. The UK has imposed sanctions on junta leaders and frozen assets, but trade ties with Myanmar have not been severed. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to supply weapons and diplomatic cover to the junta.
For the people of Lashio, there is little hope. “The world watches and does nothing,” said the shopkeeper. “We are alone.”
