At least 15 members of the Military Council were killed in an offensive against the Ta’ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme township, Kyaukme district, Shan state.

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A PSLF/TNLA official told the SHAN News that the 16th Military Operations Command (MOC-16) and the 68th Infantry Division (ID-68) of the Military Council launched airstrikes in addition to ground offensive on the TNLA camp near Nam Khon village in Kyaukme Township starting around 7:00 a.m. on February 20.

“MOC-16 and ID-68 attacked the TNLA with a force of about 60. The battle was intense from 7:00 am to 9:45 am. In the meantime, a warplane launched an offensive. The ground battle hurt their men, so they called in airstrikes to evacuate the wounded,” an PSLF/TNLA official, who did not want to be named, told the SHAN.

After the attack, the TNLA soldiers conducted a field inspection and found at least 15 dead Military Council soldiers, and at least 5 wounded, the official said to the Shan Herald.

“15 people died on their side. About 5 people were injured. And we also seized their weapons and ammunition,” he said.

During the battle, the TNLA forces seized 2 guns, 1 machine gun, 1 RPG, as well as hand grenades and military equipment. Currently the Military Council is still stationed around Nam Khon village in Kyaukme township, and residents are worried that the fighting will break out again.

The TNLA forces have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement, and have not accepted invitations from the Military Council to attend peace talks. The coup forces announced a one-year ceasefire from January 1 to December 31, 2023, but the Military Council’ s airstrikes on ethnic areas and battlefield battles are still ongoing.