Myanmar military bombards town captured by TNLA, forcing residents to flee

Myanmar’s military carried out airstrikes on the northern Shan State town of Namtu on Thursday following its capture earlier in the day by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), according to residents forced to flee the attacks. The airstrikes, which also targeted a military outpost outside of the town occupied by TNLA troops, began at around 2pm, a local man who was trapped by the aerial assault told Myanmar Now. “The bombing was very loud. They used fighter jets. We parked our car near our house and found a place to hide. We didn’t come out until it stopped,” he said. Most residents reportedly fled to Man Sam, a village some 15 miles south of Namtu, while others went as far as Lashio, about 40 miles to the east. Others were said to be hiding in forested areas around Namtu. A deserted street in Namtu, which was hit by multiple airstrikes and heavy artillery fire on December 28 (CJ) According to the man, few have returned due to fears that the attacks could resume at any time. “It’s still too risky to go back. The regime doesn’t have any soldiers there now, so they could do anything at this point,” he said, adding that the TNLA had also blocked all roads into and out of Namtu, further preventing the return of displaced residents. While the full extent of the damage from Thursday’s attacks was still unknown, the TNLA claimed that at least two local people had been killed and several buildings, including houses and religious structures, had been damaged or destroyed. Since the start of the Operation 1027 offensive against the regime in late October, junta airstrikes and artillery attacks have killed at least 120 civilians in ethnic Ta’ang areas, according to figures compiled by the Ta’ang Women’s Organization. Another 210 have been injured, the group said. In a report released on December 15, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that more than 660,000 people have been displaced since the start of the offensive, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons in the country to more than 2.6 million. The TNLA began its fight for control of Namtu on December 20, finally capturing the last junta outpost in the township, manned by some 200 troops from Light Infantry Battalion 324 and Infantry Battalion 256, eight days later. According to a spokesperson for the group, the retreating regime forces left behind a substantial amount of weaponry and ammunition. “We were able to seize many weapons, including a howitzer, heavy artillery, small weapons, and mines,” she said, adding that the TNLA has also occupied the town’s police station and other public buildings, as well as a number of army camps near Namtu. The junta made extensive use of air and artillery attacks throughout the battle for control of Namtu, and also flew in reinforcements at least 10 times, according to the TNLA spokesperson. The exact number of casualties on both sides was still unknown, as the group was still clearing the area, she said. A number of soldiers were also taken prisoner, she added. A local resident reported seeing the retreating soldiers leaving Nampai, a village about 10 miles south of Namtu, but said it was unclear how far they were able to go. “There were about 200 junta soldiers trying to leave on the Nampai road, but the TNLA had sealed the area off,” he said. Myanmar’s military has not released any statement regarding the current situation in Namtu.

Myanmar military bombards town captured by TNLA, forcing residents to flee

The air and artillery attacks came hours after junta forces lost control of their last outpost in Namtu early Thursday morning

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