A Myanmar junta drone attack on a Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) base in northern Shan State killed one TNLA soldier and injured four others on Tuesday, according to the armed group.
Two drones hit the TNLA Hsum Hsai village base in Naunghkio Township followed by three rounds of shelling from a junta base at Ohnmatee, the group said.
On June 9, a junta bombardment of Manpein and Pantin villages in Mongmit Township, reportedly with a 500-pound bomb, injured four TNLA soldiers and three civilians.
TNLA spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo reported more than 40 artillery strikes on the TNLA territory in Mogoke, Mongmit, Kyaukme and Naunghkio townships in northern Shan State after the China-brokered ceasefire in mid-January.
“Junta troops are targeting TNLA troops and civilians in our territory,” Lway Yay Oo told The Irrawaddy, adding that yesterday’s attack was another violation of China’s ceasefire.
She said the TNLA was yet to respond to the junta attacks.
The TNLA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Arakan Army which launched Operation 1027 in October last year, seizing large swathes of territory along the Chinese border.
The TNLA now controls seven towns.
Under the ceasefire, the Brotherhood Alliance agreed to halt attacks while the regime said it would stop its airstrikes and shelling.
Residents fear a return to conflict amid reports of junta supplies and reinforcements arriving in Lashio, Kyaukme and Mongmit townships.
Brotherhood Alliance forces have also been deploying around Lashio, where the junta’s Northeastern Command and many other battalion headquarters are based, according to residents.
