Myanmar Junta Continued Airstrikes Amid ASEAN Peace Efforts

Despite recent diplomatic efforts by ASEAN to foster peace in Myanmar, Myanmar junta has continued its airstrike campaign against civilians, raising concerns about the effectiveness of regional interventions.​

In April 2025, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, serving as the ASEAN chair, met with Myanmar junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in Bangkok. The discussions aimed to extend a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar in late March, killing over 3,600 people. Despite a 20-day ceasefire declared on April 2, reports indicate that the junta has continued military operations, including airstrikes in certain areas .​

Critics argue that engaging with the junta risks legitimizing the military regime, especially given its history of violating ceasefires and targeting civilians. For instance, during the ASEAN Air Chiefs conference in September 2023, the Myanmar military conducted 20 airstrikes, including an attack on a monastery in Sagaing region that killed a 77-year-old abbot and a layperson .​AP News

ASEAN leaders have repeatedly urged the Myanmar Armed Forces to de-escalate violence and cease targeted attacks on civilians, emphasizing the need for inclusive dialogue and adherence to agreed peace plans. However, the junta’s continued military actions cast doubt on its commitment to these initiatives .

As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, with many questioning the efficacy of ASEAN’s approach and the prospects for lasting peace in Myanmar.

In Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township, local sources told that the Myanmar Junta has continued airstrikes today, marking the third consecutive day of bombings on the villages of Laipyin and Yethout, where 40 people, including children, were killed over the past two days.

Due to the attacks, mass casualties occurred in Laipyin and Yethout villages. This afternoon, around 1:30 PM on April 20, junta fighter jets launched renewed airstrikes on these villages, as well as on Nyaungpinhsa and Kyaukphyar villages along the Mandalay-Mogok highway. The extent of casualties and destruction from today’s attacks is still unknown.

A local resident told, “Myanmar Junta bombed Yethout again today, the same place they hit yesterday. We don’t know yet how many were killed.”

On the afternoon of April 19, the junta bombed the central market area of  Yethout village with fighter jets, killing around 30 civilians, including children. The airstrike also caused fires that destroyed several homes and shops.

During that attack, a bomb hit a fuel shop, causing a massive fire that killed dozens of civilians, including children. As of today, bodies are still being recovered. While locals were collecting bodies and cleaning up, the junta launched another round of airstrikes, targeting them again.