In Kyaukme Township, Shan State, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) declared a unilateral ceasefire, but clashes with junta troops have continued.

Despite TNLA commanders announcing a four-day ceasefire from July 15 to 18, fighting persisted as junta forces reinforced and launched an offensive.

TNLA officials reported intensified clashes around bases of the junta’s 501st and 502nd Light Infantry Battalions in Kyaukme and near the Nattaung area.

Similarly, on July 15, TNLA forces clashed with a junta column advancing toward Nawng Ping Awn Village.

In a tragic incident, an elderly woman in Nam Hu Tawng-ahhtet Village was killed when junta battalions fired approximately 30 artillery shells into town areas, injuring three others in No. 9 Ward.

At around 9:00 pm on July 15, despite no active fighting, junta troops stationed at Bantbwe Village in Nawngkio launched a drone strike on a TNLA camp near Nawng Aw and Theakhaw villages, while troops in Yaewin Village shelled the camp, as accused by TNLA.

Despite TNLA’s ceasefire declaration, the junta continued military operations, using airstrikes and artillery bombardments extensively, according to TNLA sources.

Since June 25, TNLA and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) coalition have conducted offensives against junta bases in Nawngkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw (Thibaw), Mongmit (Momeik), Mongkut (Mogok), and Lashio towns across Shan State, seizing control of Nawngkio and capturing over 40 additional junta bases and outposts.