Among the victims were 224 women and 153 children. Air strikes were the leading cause of destruction, accounting for 505 deaths (57% of the total), carried out using jet fighters, drones, para-motors, and gyrocopters. UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani confirmed the 702 deaths were attributable to Myanmar's military, though she noted this is not a comprehensive figure and does not exclude casualties caused by other armed groups.

Myanmar has been in civil war since the military's 2021 coup, which ended a decade of democratic rule and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government. The junta held tightly controlled elections that resulted in a landslide win for its civilian allies, and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing was elected president in what democracy watchdogs called a rebranding exercise.

The UN rights office, which had strongly criticized the elections from the outset, reported that civilian deaths spiked in August-September and December - coinciding with the election announcement and military battlefield advances. The report urged countries to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court and halt arms transfers, jet fuel, and dual-use items that could facilitate violations of international law. (Bssnews)