At least two dozen civilians were killed in central Myanmar after the military launched motorised paraglider attacks on a nighttime candlelight vigil, according to rights groups and eyewitness accounts.
The deadly strikes hit Chaung-U Township in Sagaing Region twice on Monday night, as hundreds gathered to celebrate a Buddhist festival and call for the release of political prisoners. The first wave struck around 8 p.m., followed by another three hours later, leaving between 25 and 40 people dead and dozens injured.
&ldquo;This would be the latest in a long line of attacks that stretch back almost five years to the start of the 2021 military coup,&rdquo; said Amnesty International&rsquo;s Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman. &ldquo;As the military attempts to solidify power with a stage-managed election later this year, it is intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance.&rdquo;
The use of motorised paragliders to drop munitions on civilian targets marks a chilling escalation in Myanmar&rsquo;s conflict. The UN Human Rights Office has previously documented similar tactics used by the junta in resistance-controlled areas.
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has been ravaged by civil war between the military regime, pro-democracy forces, and ethnic armed organisations. UN estimates suggest over 75,000 people have been killed and more than 3 million displaced as the military continues its scorched-earth campaign.
Sagaing, a stronghold of anti-junta sentiment, has faced some of the heaviest aerial and artillery bombardments over the past two years. The recent attack comes as the junta prepares for elections later this year, despite widespread international condemnation that the process lacks legitimacy.
Freeman urged global organisations to act. &ldquo;ASEAN must increase pressure on the junta and revise an approach that has failed the Myanmar people for almost five years,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The UN Security Council should also refer the situation in Myanmar as a whole to the International Criminal Court.&rdquo;
As the conflict deepens and civilian suffering mounts, international observers warn that Myanmar&rsquo;s road back to democracy remains uncertain and increasingly bloody.

Paraglider Attack Kills Dozens in Myanmar

Myanmar military accused of deadly paraglider strikes on civilian gathering

Paraglider Attack Kills Dozens in Myanmar

Myanmar military accused of deadly paraglider strikes on civilian gathering

October 8, 2025 | 14:57 IST