In the afternoon of 29 July, armed clashes broke out in Jea Lant village tract of Muse Township in northern Shan state. The fighting occurred between the Burma army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which is the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF). Local people reported hearing the sound of artillery shell explosions and light weapon fire coming from the Loi Tay Mong hill area of the village tract.

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“Before the clash broke out, a TNLA military column was seen travelling towards Huay Nam Suan. A few hours later, we heard the sound of heavy and light weapons firing” a local man, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told SHAN.

Local people reported that shops have been closed in Jea Lant village tract for nearly a week because of the ongoing clashes between the TNLA and the Burma army.

“Almost every day we hear the sound of guns shooting in our area. Because of the fighting, we have not opened our grocery store for the past five days. If clashes continue in our area, we will have to permanently close our shop and we will lose our investment,” a Jea Lant resident told SHAN.

Since July 23, there have been multiple clashes between the TNLA and the Burma army in Muse Township, which borders China. There have been ground clashes and the Burma army has launched airstrikes against TNLA positions.

On 25 July, a Burma army combat helicopter attacked TNLA troops near Hsai Khao village in Nam Oum village tract of Muse Township. The Burma army also attacked the village with artillery. Local people reported that a 40-year-old man was killed and that civilian houses were hit by artillery shells. SHAN has not been able to independently verify the number of causalities or the extent of property damage resulting from these recent clashes in Muse Township.

Since the start of July, ethnic armed organizations based in Northern Shan State-based – including the Kachin Independence Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang army), and the TNLA – have had multiple clashes with Burma army troops and military-backed local People’s Militia Forces.