Myanmar's military junta denied on Saturday killing civilians in a hospital air strike that left more than 30 people dead.
A military jet bombed late Wednesday the general hospital of Mrauk-U in western Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, two aid workers said.
"Those killed or injured were not civilians, but terrorists and their supporters," said an article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
The ruling junta has increased air strikes year-on-year since the start of the country's civil war, conflict monitors say, after seizing power in a 2021 coup ending a decade-long experiment with democracy.
The United Nations on Thursday demanded an investigation, saying the attack could constitute a war crime.
Health workers and patients were killed, and "hospital infrastructure was severely damaged, with operating rooms and the main inpatient ward completely destroyed," said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
Rakhine state is controlled almost in its entirety by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority separatist force active long before the military toppled the civilian government of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The separatist force said in a statement that 33 people were killed and 76 wounded in the strike.
People's Defence Forces (PDF) have also risen up to oppose the military coup four years ago.
The junta "carried out necessary security measures and launched a Counter-Terrorism Operation on 10 December against the buildings being used as a base by AA and PDF terrorists," GNLM said.
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...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING...
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* WHERE...Autauga, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Perry,
and Tallapoosa Counties.
* WHEN...For the Dense Fog Advisory, until 9 AM CST this morning.
For the Cold Weather Advisory, from 6 PM Sunday to 7 AM CST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin
is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of
subfreezing temperatures could cause pipes to burst. Low
visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call
211 or visit 211connectsalabama.org for assistance locating
appropriate shelter from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
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&&
...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING...
...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM SUNDAY TO 7 AM
CST MONDAY ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...
* WHAT...For the Dense Fog Advisory, visibility one quarter mile or
less in dense fog. For the Cold Weather Advisory All of Central
Alabama, very cold wind chills as low as 11 expected.
* WHERE...Autauga, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Perry,
and Tallapoosa Counties.
* WHEN...For the Dense Fog Advisory, until 9 AM CST this morning.
For the Cold Weather Advisory, from 6 PM Sunday to 7 AM CST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin
is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of
subfreezing temperatures could cause pipes to burst. Low
visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call
211 or visit 211connectsalabama.org for assistance locating
appropriate shelter from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of
distance ahead of you.
&&
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