In yet another brutal escalation of violence, the Myanmar military junta’s Air Force launched a deadly airstrike on June 9, 2025, at approximately 1:45 PM, targeting Paiyet Village(Peh Ya) , in Krutu Township, Dooplaya District—territory under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU).

The attack, carried out by an SU-30 Jet Fighter, involved the use of cluster bombs and struck civilian homes being used as makeshift classrooms, as formal schools remain closed due to ongoing conflict. According to local sources, the airstrike resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals, including three young children aged 6, 7, and 8. A 40-year-old female teacher and a 65-year-old man were also killed on the spot.

An additional 22 people sustained injuries, including 18 schoolchildren. The bombing also destroyed eight homes and a local religious building. The children killed and injured were innocent Grade 1 and Grade 2 students. Many were living under the care of grandparents, as their parents had migrated to Thailand in search of work . With no operational schools available, villagers had been using private homes as temporary shelters and classrooms—spaces that have now also become targets of indiscriminate violence.

This tragedy marks a deeply concerning trend. Since January 2025 , schools operated by the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD) have been attacked by the State Administration Council (SAC) military forces 22 times, underscoring a systematic campaign against education in ethnic territories.The airstrike highlights the continued and deliberate targeting of civilians by the military junta. It is a stark reminder of the impunity with which the regime continues to operate, as well as the dire vulnerability of children and families living in conflict zones.

We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children. Words cannot measure the pain of losing young lives to such senseless violence.

We call on the international community to not only condemn these atrocities but to take urgent and meaningful action to protect innocent children and civilians in Myanmar. The failure to intervene and hold perpetrators accountable is not only a moral failure—it is a glaring dereliction of global responsibility.

“The lives lost today are not just a tragedy for one village, but a stain on the conscience of the world.”

Karen Education and Culture Department

Photo Credit to local source