A total of 12 civilians, including a child, were killed in junta airstrikes on the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)-controlled towns of Mongngawt and Monglon in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State.

Around 11 am on October 8, junta aircraft struck Upper Talong and Manglon wards in Mongngawt Town, killing U Shwe Hone and his wife, Daw Hla Yin, both in their 50s, injuring another man, and causing extensive damage to homes.

“The junta bombed the town around 11 am. A couple was killed, and the man was the Manglon Ward administration chairman. We don’t yet know how many houses were damaged, but there was destruction in Upper Talong. Both Upper Talong and Manglon were hit, and this is already the third time Manglon has been bombed,” a Mongngawt resident told Shan Herald.

Around noon on October 7, junta aircraft dropped two 250-pound bombs on Pazi Village, near Monglon Town, killing 10 civilians, including five women and a child, and injuring 3 others, according to the TNLA.

After the junta recaptured the key town of Kyaukme in northern Shan State on October 1, it stepped up airstrikes on other TNLA-held towns, Mongngawt and Monglon, forcing many residents to flee and leading to food shortages and other hardships.

“At the moment, we’ve completely lost contact with Kyaukme. Movement in and out of our own town is also heavily restricted, which is leading to food shortages. Ever since the planes started flying over on October 6, many residents from Manglon Ward have fled, with some now hiding in nearby tea plantations,” the aforementioned Mongngawt resident said.

According to the TNLA, the Monglon airstrike killed U Aik San Kyar (37), U San Pwint (35), U Sai Aung Sar (29), Ko Aik Htet (27), Daw Ohn Khin (45), Ma Hla Sein (25), Daw Aye May (39), Ma Khin Pa (29), Ma Aye Tate (22), and Sai Aik Oo (2), and destroyed six houses.