Myanmar’s military junta has intensified air and ground assaults in northern Shan State, striking monasteries, villages, and civilian homes in Kyaukme Township, according to residents and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

On August 25, junta aircraft dropped two 250-pound bombs on Kyaukme town. One exploded inside the Waso Monastery compound in Ward 7, injuring three novices and damaging more than 20 houses, residents told SHAN.

“A bomb landed inside the monastery compound. That area had already been hit by artillery twice. Most people had evacuated, so casualties were limited, but more than 20 houses lost their roofs,” said a Kyaukme resident.

The TNLA’s Information and Public Relations Department confirmed the strike, noting that there was no active ground fighting at the time. It reported that three novices and one man were injured, while 22 houses, four school buildings, and two vehicles were damaged.

The strike came just a day after a Y-12 aircraft bombed Long Kyeing village near Nawng Ping on August 24, amid heavy clashes between TNLA-allied forces and junta troops in the Gote Twin area. Two men sheltering in a house were killed instantly when a bomb made a direct hit, according to locals.

“The situation in the village is very bad. People are trapped and can’t escape. A Y-12 circled and dropped bombs. Two civilians were killed instantly, and until last night, no one dared to retrieve the bodies,” said a woman from Nawng Ping.

On August 23, a junta jet fighter targeted Koong Salarm village monastery, also in Kyaukme Township, dropping two 250-pound bombs. The TNLA reported that a child was killed, while two monks, one novice, two women, and two men were injured. A monastery hall, dining hall, rest shed, clinic, and 12 houses were also damaged.

Residents of Nawng Ping say civilians remain trapped inside the village, caught between the fighting and unable to flee. Local sources accused junta troops of blocking rescue teams from entering.

“A married couple from Ward 4 was shot and killed while hiding in a ditch. Another man was also shot dead earlier, and villagers had to cremate him themselves,” said a displaced man from Nawng Ping.

Ground clashes between TNLA-allied forces and junta troops continue along the Nawng Ping–Gote Twin Road in Kyaukme Township. Junta reinforcements from the Namhkam side are reportedly using artillery, drones, and airstrikes, causing casualties on both sides.