At least 40 civilians, including children, have been killed and more than 100 wounded in a relentless wave of airstrikes and artillery bombardments by Myanmar’s military council across northern Shan State, local sources report.

The assaults, concentrated in Ta’ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA)-controlled territories, have intensified between July and early August, targeting multiple townships and instilling widespread terror among residents.

The affected areas include Kutkai, Monglon, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio (Naung Cho), Hsipaw (Thibaw), and Mongkut (Mogok), all under TNLA administration. The latest attack struck Mongkut Township on Monday morning when a military jet bombed a crowded tea shop in the town center. The explosion also devastated a nearby liquor store and grocery shop, leaving a trail of carnage.

“The bomb hit just after 8:30 a.m., right when the tea shop was packed with people, including a monk collecting alms. At least 12 died instantly, and over 20 were wounded. The actual toll could be much higher,” a shaken Mongkut resident told SHAN.

Throughout July, airstrikes in Mongkut alone claimed the lives of nine civilians, including women and children, as the military council escalates its offensive. The relentless attacks have forced locals into a state of perpetual fear, with many avoiding public spaces like markets and tea shops, uncertain where the next strike may land.

In a further tightening of control, the military council has imposed martial law across 15 northern Shan State townships held by ethnic armed groups, leaving civilians bracing for more violence. The repeated assaults have not only caused staggering casualties but also deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region, with displaced families and overwhelmed medical facilities struggling to cope.

As the death toll rises, international observers urge immediate intervention to protect civilians caught in the crossfire of Myanmar’s protracted conflict.