The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has recovered scores of regime soldiers killed by friendly fire during the regime’s ongoing offensive against the Ta’ang group nestled in the mountains of Namhsan Township in northern Shan State.

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According to an anonymous source close to the armed group fighting the military government, the Ta’ang soldiers found 47 bodies and captured 24 soldiers alive during a sweep of the battlefield near Koong Sar (Kon Tha) on Tuesday. Junta soldiers stationed at the Koong Sar Buddhist monastery were fired upon by their comrades, the man told SHAN, adding that the air strikes also damaged at least 7 houses in the village.

The junta has deployed fighter jets, airships and hundreds of ground troops from five battalions against the TNLA during an offensive that began last Wednesday.

Responding to rumours that at least 30 TNLA soldiers were also killed in the clashes, the group’s spokesman, Col Tar Aik Kyaw, confirmed that there were fatalities on both sides but couldn’t say how many.

“Many houses in Koong Sar were damaged during the fighting. The military in Namhsan town attacked the TNLA with artillery and fighter jets and combat helicopters attacked our troops day and night.”

Over 1,000 villagers who’ve fled to Namhsan town are in need of food, drinking water, warm clothes and blankets.