Early in the morning of 25 August 2017, members of a Rohingya armed group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, attacked approximately 30 security force outposts in northern Rakhine State. In its response, the Myanmar Army launched an attack on the Rohingya population in northern Rakhine State as a whole. Often working with Border Guard Police and local vigilantes, the military has carried out a campaign of violence that has been systematic, organized and ruthless.

This briefing shows that the Myanmar military has killed hundreds of Rohingya women, men and children; raped women and girls; and carried out targeted burning of entire villages.