By Poe Sangle / MPA
According to on-ground sources, the allied force of Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) is launching offensives on remaining bases of the State Administration Council (SAC) Army in Hsipaw Township, Northern Shan State and SAC Army is defending with aerial attacks.
On the morning of 19 September 2024, at around 10:00 AM, a Y-12 aircraft delivered military supplies to SAC’s forces stationed in Hsipaw town. Later in the afternoon, at around 2:00 p.m., three fighter jets conducted bombing raids on the town, resulting in the destruction of at least four houses in the Tongsin ward, according to local residents.
“The fighting remains intense near no.23 light infantry battalion, no.503 and 504 infantry battalions as of this morning. SAC Army is also continuing to supply arms and ammunition, as they did yesterday. Heavy artillery is being fired targeting the town,” said a man close to TNLA.
Although fighting had ceased in Thibaw since 18 August, clashes resumed on 14 September.
The battle on 14 September was particularly fierce, with both sides conducting heavy artillery fire. SAC Army also launched airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of five civilians and the destruction of five houses due to fire.
In addition, on 17 September, at around 5:00 PM, SAC Army fired artillery into the town of Hsipaw, wounding a 60-year-old woman in the Okkyaing ward and causing two vehicles to catch fire and be destroyed.
“The roads have been reopened. Some people have fled to Kyaukme town, while others fled to southern Shan State. Some are taking refuge in nearby villages. With the fighting resuming, we can no longer stay here. We are fleeing before the fighting worsens,” said a displaced man from Hsipaw Town.
Since the second week of August, SAC Army has reinforced its troops in Thibaw through the Manli Bridge in northern Shan State. Additionally, they also requisitioned 20 cargo trucks traveling from Yangon, Mandalay, and southern Shan State for their ligestic.
Between 1 July and 17 September, 30 civilians were killed and 55 others wounded as a result of the ongoing clashes in Hsipaw Town.
Due to the intensity of the fighting, it has become difficult to keep hospitals and clinics open in Hsipaw Town. As a result, a local charity, Borderless Charity (Hsipaw), has stepped in to provide medical care, with over 1,200 people receiving treatment, according to the organization’s leader, Ko Myo.
Similarly, on September 19, SAC Army launched another airstrike on Naung Hkio, dropping at least 10 bombs from a Y-12 aircraft. These bombs hit the town’s train station, a dharma hall (preaching hall), and the central market, resulting in significant damage to several houses.
“Nearly every day, SAC Army has been attacking Naung Hkio with both artillery and airstrikes. On 17 September, three civilians—a mother and her two children—were killed by artillery fire,” said a resident of Naung Hkio.
As of now, no official response has been received from Lway Yay Oo, the head of TNLA’s Information and Communication Department, even though MPA sent messages to inquiries regarding the ongoing clashes in Hsipaw and Naung Hkio.
On 19 September, the TNLA issued a statement accusing SAC Army of committing war crimes by bombing civilian areas in non-military targets, including the towns of Kutkai, Namhsan, Mantong, Thibaw, Kyaukme, Naungcho, and Namhkam, which are under TNLA control.