A/HRC/63/19 33. The Mechanism is examining reliable evidence that since 2025, there has been a significant increase in indiscriminate and intentional aerial and artillery attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including schools, hospitals, markets and monasteries. The Mechanism has opened investigations into allegations that the Myanmar Air Force carried out aerial attacks on two school buildings in Kyauktaw Township on 12 September 2025, on a hospital in Mrauk-U Township on 10 December 2025 and on a detention facility holding captive military personnel in Ann Township on 8 March 2026. The Mechanism is also investigating the reported use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles by the Myanmar Air Force in aerial attacks in Rakhine State, including an alleged attack on two Buddhist monasteries and a school in Kyaukphyu Township on 13 December 2025. 34. The Mechanism has further found evidence of naval and artillery attacks by the Myanmar military on markets, housing units and bridges across Rakhine State in 2024 and 2025, including alleged naval attacks on the Korean Port Market in February 2024 and on the Amyint Kyun bridge in October 2025, both in Sittwe Township. 35. Investigations have also progressed on the Myanmar military’s unlawful detention and forced transfer of Rakhine civilians in Byaing Phyu village in Sittwe Township in June 2024. The Mechanism has expanded its investigations into similar incidents in mid-2024 when more than 15 other predominantly ethnic Rakhine villages in Sittwe Township along the Sittwe-Ponnagyun Highway were forcibly evacuated by the Myanmar military. Residents were ordered to relocate to Sittwe town, where they have since been effectively confined, as the Myanmar military has blocked the town’s entry and exit points, preventing civilians from leaving. In addition, the Mechanism is investigating allegations of increased nighttime raids, mass arrests and killings at detention sites operated by the Myanmar military and military-affiliated armed groups in Sittwe, targeting detained Rakhine and Rohingya civilians. 36. The Mechanism is also investigating the ongoing obstruction of humanitarian assistance, including of medical and hygiene supplies, to affected communities, as well as reported starvation-related deaths across Rakhine State. During the reporting period, the Mechanism progressed in linking these crimes to the Myanmar military and/or military-affiliated armed groups. These investigations have been supported by evidence from a range of primary and secondary sources inside Rakhine State. 37. The Mechanism advanced its investigations into serious international crimes allegedly committed by members of the Arakan Army. During the reporting period, it collected and analysed evidence concerning allegations of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, against Rohingya women in Rakhine State, summary executions in Kyauktaw Township, and forced recruitment and use of children under the age of 15. The Mechanism’s investigations also show that the Arakan Army is destroying mosques and repurposing such land for non-Rohingya resettlement. This activity has increased substantially since 2024 in connection with the Arakan Army’s offensive in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw areas of Rakhine State. Reminiscent of the 2017 clearance operations, entire Rohingya areas have been cleared out by the Arakan Army, resulting in a new influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh. Within the context of these attacks, perpetrators have often used the same or similar religiously derogatory language that has been used by the Myanmar military in collectively targeting the Rohingya, such as “Bengali” or “kalar”. 38. In addition to crimes allegedly committed by the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, the Mechanism is investigating other non-State armed groups operating in Rakhine State that may be implicated in the commission of serious international crimes. These groups include the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization and the Arakan Liberation Party, among others. C. Investigating historic crimes committed against the Rohingya 39. In addition to investigating crimes committed during the most recent episodes of armed conflict and violence in Rakhine State described in section B above, the Mechanism continues to investigate crimes committed against the Rohingya population during the military clearance operations in 2016 and 2017 and the 2012 violence. GE.26-09554 9