The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) reported that 46 civilians were killed in August due to airstrikes, artillery shelling, and drone attacks by Myanmar’s Military Junta (also called the State Security and Peace Commission, SSPC) across several townships, including Mongkut (Mogok), Kyaukme, Mongngaw, Hsipaw, and Monglon.

According to a TNLA statement released on September 1, the casualties included 3 monks, 1 nun, 19 men, 18 women, and 5 children. The group accused the Military of deliberately targeting civilians.
The TNLA also reported that 55 people were injured, including 6 monks, 6 novices, 31 men, and 12 women.

“We hear the military is determined to retake Kyaukme and Hsipaw. If fighting resumes, civilians will have no choice but to flee. For now, it’s civilians helping each other,” a Kyaukme resident told SHAN.

Another resident involved in social assistance warned that uncertainty remains: “The fighting could intensify again, or it might just be sporadic shelling; it’s hard to know. We are advising people to evacuate in advance to safer areas.”

Military tensions remain high in Kyaukme Township following the unsuccessful ceasefire talks between the Military and the TNLA in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on August 27. Mediated by China, the talks ended without an agreement.

In Sakhamthar village, just 7 miles from Kyaukme town, the TNLA has restricted entry.

“Right now in Sakhamthar village, no one is allowed in or out except locals. Officials can enter, but others with no business there cannot, not even for visits. Since the bridges have been repaired, people are already evacuating preemptively,” a local man explained.

Residents fear that, similar to Nawnghkio (Naung Cho), the Military will escalate pressure through additional airstrikes if negotiations continue to fail.

“If this tension continues, it will be the civilians who suffer most. I’m not taking sides. If they could reach an agreement and just return to their previous positions, that would be best,” he said. “If not, our people will face even greater hardship. This is also the corn harvesting season.”

He added that if clashes escalate, local relief groups will struggle to cope: “Across the Kyaukme area, there are only three or four social relief groups. Goods and medicines are no longer arriving here. If the number of patients needing treatment keeps increasing, there won’t be enough medicine to treat them.”

On another front, the TNLA is also facing difficulties. Locals say the group is under pressure from the Chinese government and is no longer receiving weapons and financial support from the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

During the “1027 Operation,” which began on October 27, 2023, the TNLA and its allies seized control of 12 towns, including Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Namtu, Namhsan, Kutkai, Mantong, Mongngaw, Monglon, Mongmit (Momeik) in northern Shan State, and Mongkut in Mandalay Region.

However, on July 15, the strategically important town of Nawnghkio was recaptured by Military troops.