The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has intensified its month-long offensive against the remaining junta soldiers in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State.
Despite the TNLA and people’s defence forces (PDFs) relentlessly attacking junta bases in Kyaukme Town since 25 June 2024, the junta still holds Military Operations Command No. 1 (MOC-1) and the 501st and 502nd Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) bases.
"The TNLA is ramping up its offensive in Kyaukme Township, and we have heard reports that it is also pressuring the junta troops in the town to surrender. Military units dispatched by the junta from Lawksawk Town (a.k.a. Yatsauk Town) to reinforce its troops in Kyaukme were ambushed by the TNLA near Nawngpinglay Village [in Kyaukme Township], resulting in the destruction of their organisational structures and forcing them to retreat.
In recent days, the fighting around Nattaung has reached its peak”, a military source from Kyaukme said to the Shan Herald.
Between 20 and 22 July the TNLA-PDF coalition intercepted and stopped the advance of reinforcements from Infantry Battalions (IBs) 202 and 203 from Division 11 during intense fighting around the Nam Sit Lin Monastery and the Asia World toll gate in Kyaukme District.
During that fighting the coalition forces confiscated a significant cache of weapons from the junta troops, including 26 MA1 assault rifles, 16 MA3 rifles, four MA4 carbines, 12 MA11 rifles, 10 MA2 light machine guns, one machine gun, two 45mm mortars, one 120mm mortar and 85 sets of military equipment. The bodies of 54 junta soldiers were also found and 40 more were taken prisoner, according to the TNLA.
On 30 July the TNLA-PDF coalition launched a raid on the junta's MOC-1, and the LIB 501 and 502 bases, as well as the Loihkwin Hill and Tower Hill outposts in Kyaukme Town. During the fighting they seized 73 guns and other military equipment.
In response, the junta deployed Y-12 logistics aircraft to deliver ammunition to battalions 501 and 502.
The TNLA also accused the junta’s Kyaukme Town based LIB 502 of firing more than 30 howitzer rounds at the Manaung Monastery on 29 July.
Since the fighting began in Kyaukme Township on 25 June, junta artillery fire, airstrikes and indiscriminate gunfire have resulted in more than 100 civilian casualties, according to local reports.
