The United Nations is calling for public assistance to identify the pilots and military officials behind a deadly airstrike on a crowded market in Burma’s Rakhine State that killed at least 50 people in late September.
The UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has requested information about the September 28 attack on Kyauktaw’s commercial district, including the names of those who carried out and ordered the strike, the airbase involved, and any photographic evidence of weapon remnants.
Market Strike Leaves Dozens Dead
Two bombs hit the area near India Market and Kissapanadi Bridge shortly after noon, killing traders, shoppers, and cargo workers—including a pregnant woman and her child. Initial reports from the Arakan Army (AA), which controls the region, placed the death toll at 33, but local sources later confirmed at least 50 fatalities and 58 injuries, with 21 victims in critical condition.
The market, which served Rakhine, Rohingya, and Hindu residents, contained over 200 shops. Fires from the attack engulfed passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and three-wheelers.
Military Denial and UN Condemnation
While the Burmese military has denied responsibility, open-source investigators at Myanmar Witness confirmed the strike’s location and estimated at least 33 deaths, noting that the Burmese Air Force is the only entity in the country capable of such an attack. The military has previously dismissed similar allegations as “fake news.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, with High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warning it may violate international humanitarian law. The European Union directly blamed Myanmar’s Armed Forces.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Action
The IIMM has been gathering evidence on multiple airstrikes in Rakhine State, including a 2025 school bombing that killed 22 and a hospital attack that left 30 dead. The group has compiled over 28 million pieces of evidence, identifying military units and airbases linked to past strikes.
While the IIMM is not a court, it shares evidence with international tribunals, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also considering an arrest warrant for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing over Rohingya persecution.
Argentina has separately pursued genocide charges under universal jurisdiction, with a Buenos Aires court calling for warrants in 2025.
The IIMM is accepting tips via encrypted platforms Signal and Proton Mail as it continues its investigation.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/11/un-investigators-want-names-pilots-who-bombed-burma/