In Lashio Town in northern Shan State, civil aid organizations reported that 17 civilians were killed, and many others were injured over five days due to artillery shells and other explosives.
At around 10:30 pm on July 7, an improvised rocket exploded in No. 4 Ward in Lashio, injuring three people, one of whom later succumbed to his injuries.
"A projectile, believed to be a handmade rocket, directly hit a house around 10:30 pm. Of the three brothers living there, the youngest died. The others suffered minor injuries to their faces and hands, but their injuries were not serious”, a local told KNG.
The deceased was the youngest at 47 years old, while his two injured brothers were 55 and 52 years old.
On the morning of July 8, the artillery fire around Lashio temporarily subsided as residents fled en masse to Mandalay and Taunggyi.
“Until last night, the clashes were intense. Although it's calmer this morning, residents are seizing the chance to leave town. Many are heading to Taunggyi and Mandalay. They tried to stay in the town despite everything, but now they're leaving due to safety concerns”, a Lashio resident reported.
As locals flee the town in haste, long lines of cars clog the roads out of town, leaving tens of thousands of war-displaced people stranded, he added.
Fighting continues between the junta and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in the areas around Lashio and nearby Mongyai Town.
On the night of July 7, reports surfaced that the Alliance had seized control of the junta's 507th Light Infantry Battalion, though KNG has not yet confirmed that information.
At around 7:00 AM on July 3, an artillery shell struck a house on Byuhar Road in No. 1 Ward in Lashio, killing six family members who were gathered for breakfast.
That same morning, an artillery shell struck Nampawng Village near Lashio, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to two children. On July 4, an artillery strike in Lashio's No. 9 Ward claimed the lives of a mother and her son.
According to information obtained by KNG, in less than a week, 6 women, 6 children, and 5 men were killed in Lashio by explosives believed to be improvised rockets, totaling 17 fatalities. Furthermore, many civilians sustained injuries, and there was extensive damage to houses and other buildings.
Since the night of July 2, the Kokang armed group, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), has launched an offensive against Lashio, heavily shelling junta positions in the town. Junta garrison troops have retaliated with artillery strikes, leading to ongoing clashes both in the town and its outskirts.
Meanwhile, the junta is conducting airstrikes in towns like Hsenwi (Theinni), which are not combat zones, prompting residents of towns currently controlled by the Alliance to be on alert for air raids.
‘Operation 1027’, initiated by the Alliance in northern Shan State, halted on January 11 due to a ceasefire agreement brokered by the Chinese government. However, following repeated provocations by the junta, including airstrikes and shelling in Alliance-controlled areas, ‘Operation 1027’ was revived as a second wave.
