Regime fighter jets pounded the Ta’ang National Liberation Army’s (TNLA) camp twice, damaging civilians’ homes, while at the same time ground troops attacked it in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State.
.
Six fighter jets reportedly attacked the camp at 7pm on Wednesday and two more dropped five shells around 4am the next day, a 30-year-old man told SHAN requesting his name be withheld for security reasons. “Fighting between the TNLA and the military is increasing in Namhsan Township,” he said, explaining that clashes occurred at 2pm on Wednesday and from 7pm to 10pm.
Several stray shells landed among Hu Meng, Ru Boung and Kon Tha villages, damaging houses.
“Some villagers have taken shelter in Namtu while others have gone to Lashio,” another local source, who also requested anonymity, told SHAN. He couldn’t say how many people were forced out of their homes by the violence or how many houses in the area were damaged
While the regime deployed reinforcement troops from Namtu and Hsipaw townships, it continued to shell the TLNA camp with artillery from Namhsan town.
Some observers suspect the regime has used the recent informal ceasefire negotiated with the TNLA’s ally, the Arakan Army, in Rakhine State to attack the Ta’ang armed group in northern Shan State.
SHAN repeatedly reached out to TNLA Brig-Gen Tar Bone Kyaw for comment, but he hadn’t responded by press time.
