BANGKOK: Myanmar military air strikes carried out in northern Shan State have killed 11 civilians and injured 11 more, said a spokesperson of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The attacks occurred early on Friday in the town of Namhkam, approximately five kilometers from the border with China’s Yunnan province. The TNLA reported that the strikes hit two areas around 1:00 am local time (1830 GMT), also damaging a local political party’s office.
The casualties included five men, four women, and two children. Images and video footage from the scene showed significant damage, with buildings destroyed and people searching through rubble. One video, verified by AFP, was geolocated to Namhkam and had not been seen online before.
A local resident said that 13 people were admitted to the hospital with injuries, and funerals for the victims were scheduled for the evening.
The TNLA, which had taken control of Namhkam after weeks of fighting last year, has warned residents of potential further air strikes and allowed people to evacuate the town for safety.
Since last year, the Myanmar military has faced significant territorial losses in northern Shan State to a coalition of ethnic minority armed groups and “People’s Defence Forces” opposing the junta.
The conflict, triggered by the military coup in 2021, has displaced over 2.7 million people, according to the United Nations.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has recently warned civilians in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups to brace for military counterattacks.
