Myanmar army launches airstrikes against Rohingya Muslims

An airstrike by the Myanmar army has killed 41 people and injured 52 others in Mrauk-U district in the country's Rakhine state. Women and children are among the dead, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

Local sources said the death toll could rise. Following the attack, the Myanmar government accused the Arakan Army, an armed group operating in the region, of using civilians as human shields.

Rohingya Muslims are one of the most persecuted minorities in Myanmar. They have faced decades of persecution, violence and discrimination. In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to flee their homes due to military repression and fled to neighboring Bangladesh.

International human rights organizations and activists are calling for an investigation into the incident and for freedom of expression. The international community's response to the incident and the consequences if no action is taken are of particular concern.