Myanmar Military Airstrike Violated International Law
May 15, 2025 — On May 12, 2025, Myanmar military regime launched an airstrike on a school in Ohe Htein Twin village, Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, killing at least 22 civilians — including 20 children and two teachers — and injuring dozens more. The international community, legal experts, and human rights organizations have widely condemned the attack, calling it a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
The Attack: Targeting Civilians in a Conflict Zone
According to local reports and witness testimony, Myanmar military aircraft struck the school mid-morning while more than 100 children were attending classes. Survivors described horrific scenes of destruction, with young students dying instantly or succumbing to severe injuries.
No armed groups were reported present at the time, and the National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s shadow civilian government, confirmed the absence of resistance fighters in the area. The Myanmar junta, however, has denied responsibility or justified the strike as part of its ongoing operations against so-called “terrorist groups.”
Legal Violations Under International Humanitarian Law
Legal analysts argue the airstrike breaches multiple provisions of international humanitarian law (IHL), particularly under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols:
Distinction: IHL requires that warring parties distinguish between combatants and civilians. The deliberate targeting of a school with no military presence constitutes a direct attack on civilians — an act that is categorically prohibited.
Proportionality: Even if a legitimate military target had been nearby (which evidence suggests was not the case), the use of force must be proportionate. Striking a location filled with children and teachers far exceeds any justifiable military advantage.
Protection of Educational Institutions: Schools are afforded special protection during armed conflict. Attacks on education facilities are considered a grave breach of IHL and may qualify as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
International Response and Calls for Accountability
The United Nations has issued a strong condemnation of the attack. UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called it “an atrocity that cannot be ignored,” urging the international community to pursue accountability mechanisms.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have echoed these sentiments. “This is not an isolated incident,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty. “It reflects a broader pattern of the junta using air power to crush civilian resistance, in blatant violation of international law.”
Pathways to Justice
While Myanmar is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC could still investigate through a UN Security Council referral or universal jurisdiction claims by individual states. Additionally, civil society organizations are actively collecting evidence for potential future prosecutions and sanctions.
The May 12 school airstrike in Depayin is a tragic reminder of the escalating brutality in Myanmar’s civil conflict. Beyond the immediate loss of innocent lives, it underscores the urgent need for international legal and diplomatic action. With clear evidence of violations of international humanitarian law, the Myanmar military must be held accountable for what many now consider a war crime.
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