The military council conducted airstrikes at midnight on July 5 targeting areas controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme city, northern Shan State, according to local residents. The attacks targeted the district forest compound in Kyaukme without any ongoing battles, resulting in damage to forestry office buildings though no civilian casualties were reported. A local resident from Kyaukme stated that most civilians in the city have been forced to flee as internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to increasingly frequent airstrikes by the military council. Previous airstrikes by the military council on June 27 and 29 had resulted in the deaths of at least 5 civilians.
Additionally, on the afternoon of July 5, the military council conducted airstrikes on Zarapkwin village in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, causing injuries to two civilians, as confirmed by the People’s Defense Force Pyin Oo Lwin District. The injured individuals have received medical treatment, and several homes were damaged in the attack. The military council’s continuous military operations in Thabeikkyin Township have forced thousands of local residents to flee their homes as IDPs, creating urgent needs for food, medicine, and other essential supplies, according to local youth volunteers involved in IDP assistance efforts.
The ongoing airstrikes and military operations by the council have severely disrupted civilians’ daily lives and created significant security risks for local populations. Local aid workers report that displaced residents face increasing challenges in accessing basic necessities and safe shelter as the military council continues its offensive operations in these regions. The situation has created a growing humanitarian crisis as more civilians are forced to abandon their homes and communities to escape the escalating violence.
