Myanmar junta airstrikes targeted the northern Shan State capital, Lashio, on Friday, hours after the regime proposed peace talks.
A junta statement on Thursday night invited “terrorist” anti-regime groups, including People’s Defense Forces loyal to the civilian National Unity Government, to “political” peace talks.
But before dawn on Friday, the air force dropped 15 bombs, including large 500- and 200-pound bombs, on Lashio’s market and residential areas. The city was liberated in August by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) after a month of fighting. It has since formed the Lashio Reconstruction Group (LRG) to rehabilitate the war-torn city.
The airstrikes killed two civilians and injured six others, including a pregnant woman and many shops at the city market and houses were destroyed, the Lashio Reconstruction group said.
Junta airstrikes have repeatedly targeted Lashio.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, aircraft used 500-pound bombs on hotels, homes and a school, in which a civilian was killed and nearly 20 others injured.
Junta airstrikes targeted Hsipaw and Nawnghkio townships in northern Shan State where the MNDAA’s ally, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), has surrounded regime bases.
The MNDAA, TNLA and Arakan Army (AA) comprise the Brotherhood Alliance that launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State in October last year. The operation was halted on January 10 by a China-brokered ceasefire. It resumed in June after the junta repeatedly bombed TNLA territory.
The Brotherhood Alliance has liberated most of northern Shan State, seizing around 25 towns and vital trade routes with China.
The AA has seized most of Rakhine State since November last year.
On Thursday morning, two junta fighter jets dropped four bombs on Thandwe’s Environment Protection Office and town hall where over 200 displaced people were sheltering under AA control.
AA spokesman Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy that 14 displaced civilians were killed and 25 others injured.
Myanmar’s regime this month stepped up drone and airstrikes on liberated territory after junta boss Min Aung Hlaing made a speech promising to retake lost territory.
This month the junta has conducted around 40 airstrikes on liberated territory, killing around 180 people, including around 15 children.
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