Context: The Myanmar military used a thermobaric or vacuum bomb, also known as a fuel-air explosive, in an attack on a village in Sagaing last month, killing more than 160 people, including children, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
| About Thermobaric Bomb
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| Two-stage Explosion | First explosion splits open the bomb’s fuel container, releasing a cloud of fuel and metal particles. Second explosion ignites the aerosol cloud, creating a giant ball of fire and sending out intense blast waves |
| Prohibition | Not prohibited by any international law or agreement |
| Possible Action | Use against civilian populations in built-up areas, schools or hospitals, could attract action under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 |
Myanmar has been facing violence since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests.
