The military council conducted an aerial bombardment on the western part of Mogok city in Mandalay Region, which is currently under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), during heavy rainfall. The attack occurred on August 2 at 8:30 AM, despite there being no ongoing fighting in the area. The military’s airstrike hit near the Golden Bar liquor shop at Gaung Oo Hta Top in western Mogok, resulting in civilian casualties. According to local residents, the bombing took place during intense rain, making it difficult to hear the approaching aircraft.
A local resident reported that at least three people were killed and several others were injured in the attack. The informant noted that the precision of the strike, despite the heavy rain, suggested the military likely had intelligence about the target location. The military council has been conducting frequent aerial attacks on Mogok city since its capture by the TNLA, with numerous civilian casualties reported during May, June, and July due to these airstrikes. The pattern of attacks has shown an increasing intensity, with multiple strikes occurring within short periods.
Recent military aerial operations include a series of attacks on July 29, when seven bombs were dropped on the city starting at 9:30 AM, followed by a second attack ten minutes later. At 10:39 AM the same day, another bombing targeted the area near RQ Hotel in East Village, Bee Taung. On July 26, the military conducted a jet fighter attack on the Golden Butterfly Hotel. The military’s campaign of aerial bombardment has been particularly devastating in residential areas. On July 13, an attack on Pan Ma Htaik village in eastern Mogok with 500-pound bombs resulted in injuries to six civilians and destroyed seven homes.
The severity of these attacks is further illustrated by incidents such as the July 9 bombing, when an aircraft from the Tada-U Air Base dropped a 300-pound bomb on Kular Garden in the Taung Kachin ward, resulting in the immediate deaths of two 12-year-old children and injuries to eight others. On July 8, another 500-pound bomb was dropped near Gaung Hta Hlei School, killing three civilians. The military council has also targeted religious buildings and civilian infrastructure, as evidenced by the June 25 attack that damaged the Tone Kine monastery, including its dining hall and ceiling. These continued aerial attacks on civilian areas demonstrate a pattern of indiscriminate warfare that has resulted in significant civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
