On Thursday, a combat helicopter belonging to the Burma army attacked a military camp occupied by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front, around 10 am in northern Shan State. The camp was previously occupied by the Burma army for nearly 5 years before being abandoned and used by the Ta’ang troops.

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“They dropped at least 10 bombs on the TNLA’s temporary military camp,” said a local man who asked for his name not to be used while confirming there was no previous fighting in the area. He said at least two Ta’ang soldiers were killed during the airstrike in Enai village-tract located in Lashio Township, and several homes belonging to civilians were damaged.

SHAN attempted to reach the TNLA spokesperson for a comment on the attack but was unable to get through.

This airstrike happened two days after a Military Council jet fighter attack on Seng Khao in Nam Oum village-tract located in Muse Township, which was carried out under the accusation of a TNLA troop presence in the village. A few days earlier, Ta’ang troops had clashed with the Burma army in Muse Township. The Burma army also shelled Seng Khao with artillery, killing a 40-year-old man and injuring a woman. Numerous homes in the village sustained damage from the attacks.

Following the attack, Burma army ground troops were deployed to Kawng Weing, situated nearby, where they took shelter in people’s homes causing many of the male villagers who feared they would be targeted to flee.

Clashes between the Burma army and TNLA and its ally, the Kachin Independence Army, have escalated significantly in northern Shan state since the beginning of July where tensions are rising on all sides.