Myanmar regime airstrikes on residential areas of Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)-controlled Kyaukme town in northern Shan State killed four civilians and wounded others on Tuesday, according to locals and the ethnic armed group.
A junta fighter jet dropped two 500lb bombs on wards No. 3 and 7 of the town, despite an absence of clashes on the ground, the TNLA said.
Junta-backed Telegram news channel Thazin Oo reported the air force carried out two airstrikes targeting a construction office building said to be housing resistance forces.
The channel said the bombing killed 15 members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and two civilians supporting the resistance, which it referred to as “terrorist groups.”
The TNLA said the airstrike on ward No. 7 killed four people, including three women, and injured nine others. A convent and seven houses were destroyed, while 22 more homes suffered damage.
The blast in ward No. 3 destroyed 16 houses and a school, injuring three adults and two children.
The TNLA said the bombing of civilian targets was completely unprovoked.
The regime stepped up airstrikes on TNLA-held territory in May after the armed group refused to return the towns to the regime during China-brokered peace talks in Kunming in late April.
Tuesday’s attack just weeks after regime airstrikes destroyed a hospital and houses in Kyaukme town.
Regime aircraft also bombed the town on November 30 last year, killing at least 10 people including a nun and injuring 20 others.
The TNLA and allies including the PDF – the armed wing of civilian National Unity Government (NUG) – captured Kyaukme town in August 2024 after seizing neighboring Nawnghkio a month earlier during phase two of the ethnic Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027.
The regime has launched a major counteroffensive to retake Nawnghkio town, deploying large numbers of troops to attack TNLA and allied resistance positions from several directions.
Most Nawnghkio residents have fled the fighting and sought refuge in Kyaukme.
Operation 1027 saw the TNLA capture 11 towns in northern Shan State – Namhsan, Mongton, Kutkai, Mongngaw, Namtu, Namhkam, Monglon, Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, Mongmit and Hsipaw – and Mogoke in Mandalay Region.
