The military junta has been carrying out continuous airstrikes on Lashio, a city in northern Shan State that is currently under the control of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), according to local sources.
On September 27, at around 3:40 a.m., the junta launched airstrikes on Lashio, deploying 500-pound and 200-pound bombs. The attack resulted in the deaths of two civilians, with several others injured. Additionally, homes near the central market and Green Park Hotel suffered significant damage.
“For days now, planes have been coming almost every day. There isn’t even active fighting, but they’re bombing the city, hitting areas like the market. It seems like they want to kill civilians. People are terrified to stay in the city. I haven’t dared to bring my elderly relatives back home yet because we’re all afraid of the planes,” a Lashio resident told the Independent Mon News Agency.
On September 24, another airstrike by the junta killed one civilian and severely injured nine others in Lashio’s Ward 2. Since September 21, the junta has carried out at least ten airstrikes on the city, with residents confirming ongoing assaults as of September 27.
In just five days, the airstrikes have claimed the lives of three civilians and injured more than 20. Numerous homes and buildings have also been damaged.
The MNDAA has condemned the junta’s airstrikes, stating that they undermine the peace process. The group has been working to restore Lashio’s administrative functions and rebuild the city, but these efforts have been repeatedly disrupted by the junta’s continued bombardment.
