Myanmar’s military has escalated aerial bombardments in Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)-controlled areas of Shan State, deploying 500-pound bombs that have devastated civilian infrastructure and killed multiple civilians, despite an officially declared ceasefire.

On the evening of May 13, around 9:30 p.m., a military jet struck the market ward of Nawngkio (Naung Cho) township, flattening at least seven homes, according to local witnesses. The TNLA-administered town, once a bustling commercial hub, now lies in ruins.

“The explosion was deafening. The market was hit directly, but thankfully, it was late, so fewer people were around. Still, the destruction is total, barely any structures remain intact,” a shaken resident told SHAN. Many have fled the area, fearing further attacks.

The latest assault follows a pattern of relentless military aggression. Just five days earlier, on May 8, artillery fire slammed into Thayetcho village in Nawngkio township, injuring six civilians. The community was still reeling from a prior attack during a wedding ceremony that killed four, including a five-year-old child.

“Four died the night of the wedding, and six more later succumbed to their injuries,” a military source disclosed to SHAN.

In Mongkut (Mogok), another TNLA stronghold, a midnight airstrike targeted the Golden Butterfly Hotel, a four-story building, while residents slept. Casualty figures remain unconfirmed, but the attack has sown widespread panic.

Simultaneously, around 10 p.m., military forces shelled the TNLA-occupied 148th Infantry Battalion near Kyauk Le Bee village along the Mandalay-Mogok highway.

Despite the military council’s extension of a temporary ceasefire (May 6–31), its forces have continued daily assaults, including drone strikes, artillery barrages, and airstrikes, across TNLA territories. Earlier, on May 12, raids on Mantong and Mong Ngaw killed one civilian, wounded five, and destroyed 27 homes.

The TNLA has condemned the attacks, urging civilians to remain vigilant. “The military council’s air and artillery strikes are relentless and indiscriminate,” a spokesperson warned.

As violence escalates, displaced families and shattered communities face an uncertain future, with no end in sight to the bloodshed.