One civilian was killed and an entire village was forced to evacuate after the military launched artillery strikes on Ward 5 of Naung Pein village in Kyaukme Township, Shan State, according to local residents. The military began firing heavy weapons into the village around 3 PM on August 18, with artillery shells exploding within the village area, resulting in one civilian death. The situation has forced villagers to flee using their vehicles and motorcycles to escape the attacks.
According to a local resident, one artillery shell landed and exploded near a banyan tree in front of a Shan monastery in Ward 5, producing an extremely loud blast. This was followed by three to four more consecutive artillery strikes. Residents reported hearing gunfire from the Gokteik area throughout the morning before the attacks reached the village itself. The civilian casualty occurred in Ward 5, which is located in the outskirts of Naung Pein village. The military had previously attacked Naung Pein village with heavy weapons on July 26, 28, and 30, resulting in the deaths of one monk and one civilian.
In a separate incident in Mandalay Region, an air strike near a nunnery at Kyat Pyin Market in western Mogok town resulted in one civilian being injured. This attack occurred around 3:10 PM on August 18. Local residents confirmed that the military’s air force conducted the bombing near the nunnery at Kyat Pyin Market, causing injury to one civilian. These incidents represent an ongoing pattern of military attacks against civilian areas, resulting in casualties and forcing local populations to flee their homes for safety.
