The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) – the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front – clashed with the Burma army near Muse town on the morning of 2 August, according to reports from local people.

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“We heard 16 large explosions this morning. As far as I know, the Burma army troops based in Muse town attacked TNLA troops with artillery during a clash at the foot of the Loi Tay Mong hill. The sound was very loud in Muse town,” a 40-year-old resident of Muse town told SHAN.

The clash happened near Loi Tay Mong hill, which is in Jea Lant village tract of Muse Township in northern Shan State. The clash location is just seven miles away from Muse town. Residents of Muse town reported hearing artillery shell explosions around 11:30 a.m. on 2 August.

Local people reported that a TNLA military column arrived at the Loi Tay Mong hill area on 1 August. After arriving, the TNLA soldiers ordered a Buddhist monk to leave the area. SHAN repeatedly called the TNLA spokesperson for comment regarding the clash, but did not receive a response.

Elsewhere on the morning of 2 August, local people reported hearing gun fire from the area between the Ahtet Tong Khan and Ouk Tong Khan villages, which is not far from the Jin San Jiao Burma-China border checkpoint. An unknown number of shells landed in a civilian village, according to local reports.

“I do not know which armed organizations were shooting. As far as I know, some shells landed in Ouk Tong Khan village but I do not know if there were any civilian causalities or property damage there,” another local man told SHAN.

SHAN has not been able to independently verify whether there were any causalities or property damage resulting from the clashes at Loi Tay Mong hill or in Ouk Tong Khan village.

TNLA troops have had multiple clashes with the Burma army in different parts of Muse Township since 23 July.