“Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 13 Overview”,
published by MoeMaKa on May 14, 2025*:
Daily Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths Continue Across Myanmar
On May 12, the military junta conducted an airstrike on a village school in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, killing over 20 schoolchildren and 2 teachers, and injuring more than 40 students. Just a day later, on May 13, another airstrike in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State, destroyed six homes and killed 13 civilians.
These near-daily airstrikes are not part of effective military offensives to regain territory but rather appear to be retaliatory attacks targeting areas under the control of People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed groups.
Patterns of Targeting Civilian Structures
While some airstrikes are aimed at confirmed resistance gatherings, many others hit schools, monasteries, and civilian homes. Notably, this latest strike in Oe Htein Twin village and another in Rathedaung were not linked to military bases or resistance activity.
Similar to past attacks such as the Let Yet Kone school bombing in 2022 or the strike on a Kachin cultural concert in Hpakant, the military appears to be indiscriminately targeting civilian zones.
Airstrikes as a Strategy of Fear
As the military continues to lose ground in rural areas and cannot conduct successful ground offensives, it increasingly relies on air power to inflict fear and disruption.
The goal appears to be not military victory, but to terrorize the civilian population and destroy community infrastructure in territories it no longer controls.
Preparing for Protection and Survival
Since civilians cannot defend against airstrikes, the key question becomes:
How can they minimize casualties?
To reduce civilian harm, communities must:
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Construct bomb shelters
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Develop early warning systems for schools and villages
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Practice evacuation drills
Some resistance groups have tried cutting off communications to prevent airstrike targeting via phone or internet. But this has also hurt civilians by blocking remittance transfers and aid communication, worsening their hardship.
Limitations of Anti-Aircraft Action
Resistance campaigns to cut off jet fuel supplies have so far failed. Strikes on airbases are extremely difficult because these are located in heavily fortified cities like Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Taungoo, Magway, and Myitkyina.
Without the capability to neutralize airbases, the best defense remains minimizing harm on the ground—through early warnings and shelters.
Local Defense Tactics Emerging
In some areas, communities now:
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Watch for incoming jets
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Relay alerts to nearby villages
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Evacuate to bunkers when necessary
These early-warning and evacuation systems have helped reduce casualties, but they require better coordination and resources.
Challenges in Building Civilian Defenses
Bomb shelters are expensive and time-consuming to build—especially during an economic collapse. Few families can afford to construct their own.
Still, these defensive measures are now more vital than ever, especially as the junta intensifies its reliance on airstrikes.
The Bigger Picture
Myanmar is not alone. Just like in Gaza, where thousands of children have been killed in air raids, Myanmar’s children are now dying under the bombs of a junta backed by foreign military aid.
Just as Western countries support Israel, Russia and China continue to arm the Myanmar military, making the suffering of civilians in places like Depayin and Rathedaung possible.
In such a world, where civilian lives are expendable and international outrage is selective, Myanmar’s people must organize, adapt, and protect themselves—because help may not come from outside.