The United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) engaged in an exchange of fire after the UWSA allegedly attacked the RCSS in eastern Shan State.

On Tuesday morning, the UWSA attack on the RCSS camp in Mongton Township lasted for 30 minutes, and at 1pm the two armed groups fought again, a local resident told SHAN on condition of anonymity.

An RCSS officer, who didn’t want to be named, said five Shan soldiers were killed and they lost some military equipment, including assault rifles. “I also heard that some Wa soldiers were killed in the clashes, but I cannot say how many casualties there were.”

The UWSA said it had lost one soldier, but the local source said the group had more casualties than it was willing to admit.

Military tensions between the groups in the region have been increasing since January. The last time they fought was in 2015, the same year the RCSS signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. The Burma Army has officially recognised RCSS’s headquarters in Mong Hta since 2011.