New Delhi, Dec. 9 -- An air strike last week by Myanmar's military on a tea shop in the country's upper-central region of Sagaing killed at least 18 civilians and wounded 20 others, a local villager and Myanmar's independent online media said Monday.

The attack is the latest in a series of frequent and deadly aerial strikes targeting armed pro-democracy forces as the country approaches elections scheduled for later this month. The strikes often cause civilian casualties.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms...