People’s Spring
Starting the day after coup leader Min Aung Hlaing’s return from China, the Military Council launched two consecutive days of airstrikes on two towns under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Shan State, resulting in the deaths of 20 civilians and injuries to 24 others.
Mogok Town, a world-renowned ruby hub, was targeted by a Military Council airstrike around midnight on November 11, during which five bombs were dropped. According to the TNLA, the attack killed 9 locals and injured 13 others.
The coalition of the TNLA and People’s Defence Force (PDF) launched an offensive operation for Mogok on June 25, successfully capturing it on July 24. Since then, the administration and reconstruction of Mogok Town have been jointly managed by the Mogok Township People’s Administrative Team and the TNLA.
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Mogok residents, who were temporarily displaced during the fighting, are now resettling in their hometown. However, the recent airstrike by the Military Council has reignited concerns about their safety.
“The Military Council may have deliberately waited for the town to return to normalcy and become bustling before carrying out this devastating act. It is also unclear what agreements the coup leader might have reached with China. Mogok is a valuable and strategic location, and the Military Council could have targeted it out of spite after losing control of the town,” a Mogok resident said.
At 2:30 pm on November 12, the Military Council carried out another airstrike on Naungcho Town in northern Shan State, located 35 miles from Pyin Oo Lwin, home to the Defense Services Academy (DSA), which is traditionally used by the Military Council to train and commission new officers.
A Military Council aircraft dropped a 500-pound bomb on the Len Sen tea shop in downtown Naungcho, killing 11 civilians and injuring 11 more. The TNLA announced that four houses and several passenger vehicles parked near the tea shop were burned down during the bombing.
“The bomb landed directly on the Len Sen teashop,” a Naungcho resident said.
Military Council leader Min Aung Hlaing, who orchestrated the 2021 coup, returned from China on November 10. Over the following two days, TNLA-controlled towns were subjected to devastating airstrikes, resulting in numerous casualties.
On November 12, the Military Council launched further airstrikes on Pwintbyu Town in Magway Region, Mindat Town in Chin State, and Ann Town in Arakan (Rakhine) State.
The TNLA has urged the public to remain vigilant against the risk of Military Council airstrikes, avoid large gatherings whenever possible, and strictly adhere to airstrike prevention guidelines.
Between February 1, 2021, when the coup was staged, and the end of August 2024, the Military Council conducted over 3,200 airstrikes nationwide, resulting in approximately 1,750 fatalities, according to Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, a research organization monitoring post-coup airstrikes by the Military Council.
In August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Naypyidaw and met the coup leader, after which the Military Council’s airstrikes have intensified.
