Myanmar’s military launched airstrikes on Mogoke in northern Mandalay Region on Monday, marking the first attack on the ruby town since it was seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allies in July. The bombing targeted civilian areas, killing residents and damaging infrastructure, according to locals and the ethnic army.
The TNLA and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) under the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) liberated the town on July 24 after a month of attacks.
The deadly airstrikes came amid TNLA efforts to rehabilitate the town, and just a day after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived back from the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Summit in Kunming, China.
Beijing has warned the TNLA to stop fighting the regime or face consequences.
The regime used a Harbin Y12 aircraft to bomb residential wards of Mogoke at around 11 pm on Monday, killing nine civilians, injuring 13 others and destroying houses, TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday.
She also warned residents to be on alert for more junta airstrikes.
Mogoke occupies a strategic location, 189 kilometers north of Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, serving as a gateway to the region from northern Shan State. The town is also prized for its mines, which account for 90 percent of Myanmar’s ruby production.
The TNLA has suspended large-scale mechanized mining but permitted individual residents to continue digging for gems.
Junta-backed pro-military Telegram channels have been urging the regime to flatten the town with airstrikes ever since it was captured in July.
Monday’s bombing raid has reportedly spread terror through residential areas of the town.
On Sunday, junta fighter jets dropped 300lb bombs on civilian areas in the TNLA-liberated town of Nawnghkio in northern Shan State, destroying seven houses. No civilian casualties were reported, the ethnic army said.
Junta warplanes also targeted Maung Zee and Hsum Hsai villages in Nawnghkio Township earlier this month, killing three civilians and injuring six others in Hsum Hsai, the TNLA said.
The TNLA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, whose year-long Operation 1027 has liberated most of northern Shan State, seizing some 25 towns and townships including the capital, Lashio.
Unable to send ground troops to recover lost territory, the junta has escalated airstrikes on towns under resistance control since August, killing dozens of civilians and destroying infrastructure.
