At least 11 civilians were killed by Myanmar junta shelling and airstrikes in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State, in five days amid fighting with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its allies, according to a Shan network and the TNLA.
“Junta shells and airstrikes in Hsipaw killed at least eleven people and left 12 with severe injuries,” said a member of the network, who is helping civilians in the town.
He said airstrikes continue after most civilians have left the town.
The TNLA of the Brotherhood Alliance stated on Wednesday that seven men and four women were killed within five days by junta artillery and airstrikes in Hsipaw Township.
“Twelve residents, including a child and a Buddhist nun, were severely injured. Most of the residents of Hsipaw town and Nam Lan and Pan Lon villages are sheltering in Kyaukme Township,” said the TNLA’s statement.
The TNLA of the Brotherhood Alliance has been attacking the headquarters of Infantry
Battalion 23 and Light Infantry Battalions 503 and 504 since Saturday.
The armed group said the heaviest fighting has happened with Infantry Battalion 23 at least 44 bombs dropped in airstrikes. It said the fighting continued on Wednesday.
Hsipaw is a junta hub on the Dokthawaddy River and the main road from Mandalay to the Chinese border.
Resident Sai Khon, 56, said: “There is fighting across town. We left on Saturday along with most of the rest of the town. It was chaos.
“We know from other towns that civilians are unsafe so we left,” he said.
Sai Khon’s family are sheltering at a village monastery in Kyaukme Township, which is held by the TNLA. He said they would return to Hsipaw when the armed group fully controls the town.
The group seized Hsipaw prison on August 10, releasing 109 inmates, including 29 political prisoners, according to a TNLA source.
The Brotherhood Alliance overran numerous towns and junta battalion headquarters during the first phase of Operation 1027 late last year.
The operation resumed in late June after January’s China-brokered ceasefire collapsed. The alliance has since seized Kyaukme, Mongmit, Nawnghkio and Lashio in northern Shan State and Madaya, Tagaung and Mogoke towns in Mandalay Region.
On Sunday, a junta Y-12 transport plane dropped at least 20 bombs on Nawnghkio Township. On Monday, the junta launched three airstrikes on Namhsan town, which is held by the TNLA. One civilian was killed, according to the armed group.
