20 civilians were killed in the attack by the junta

Last Updated on June 30, 2024 9:12 am

At least 20 civilians have been killed in Myanmar’s Shan State and Mandalay regions in the past four days in shelling and airstrikes by junta forces. More than 20 people were seriously injured. This news has been published in a report of the local media The Irrawaddy.

In February 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the elected government of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In the middle of that year, various armed organizations across the country started a war of resistance against the army.

In October last year, three armed groups formed an alliance and launched an all-out war against the junta government under the name ‘Operation 1027’.

The rebel alliance, known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, has taken over most of Myanmar in the past few months. Junta forces continued to attack the rebels.

The rebel Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and its allies resumed operations last week (June 25) in Kyukme and Naongkyo townships in northern Shan State and Mogok in Mandalay region, The Irrawaddy reported.

Rebels say the junta has repeatedly violated a Chinese-brokered ceasefire agreement in January. In response to that, the operation has started again.

Two towns and more than 25 junta strongholds fell in the rebel offensive. Some of which include battalion headquarters and police stations.

Then the junta started shelling and airstrikes on the rebels. The attacks have caused heavy casualties in the past few days. 12 civilians died on Friday alone (June 28).

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army said six civilians, including a Buddhist monk, were killed and two others were wounded in Kyukme Township in the shelling.

An airstrike hit a monastery in eastern Mogo. A newborn was killed and four others were injured. Two women and a child were killed in West Mogo.

Airstrikes and shelling damaged 13 houses and a monastery and displaced thousands of residents in Kiukme, Naongkyo and Mogo.