The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has announced that seven civilians were killed and thirteen others, including one Chinese national, were injured following military council airstrikes in Kutkai, Northern Shan State. The attack occurred at 00:53 AM on July 30, when military council forces conducted an aerial bombardment on civilian residential areas in the Kutkai district. Among the wounded was a 20-year-old Chinese citizen.
Earlier this year, through Chinese government mediation, the MNDAA and the military council held negotiations in Kunming, resulting in a ceasefire agreement known as the Hei Gin Agreement. While this agreement had established a ceasefire in Special Region 1, the MNDAA states that the military council’s recent aerial attack represents a severe violation of the peace agreement. The organization has warned that this action significantly increases the risk of renewed conflict in the region. The attack on Kutkai city, which was actively engaged in post-war reconstruction, has cast a shadow over the hard-won peace agreement.
The military council’s airstrike targeted non-military civilian areas, resulting in civilian casualties including a child, and caused significant economic losses to local businesses. The MNDAA has pointed out that this action not only disregards but also undermines the efforts of international and regional stakeholders working towards peace in Northern Shan State. However, the MNDAA has stated that they are maintaining restraint to prevent the situation from escalating further and are responding with controlled measures rather than taking an aggressive stance. The organization continues to emphasize the importance of preserving the delicate peace process while condemning the military council’s actions that threaten the stability of the region.
