At least three civilians were killed and 20 others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Mogok town in Mandalay Region on Sunday. An unknown number of homes were destroyed by the airstrikes.
Mogok residents told DVB that more than 20 bombs were dropped in seven regime airstrikes in the western part of Mogok, which is located 124 miles (200 km) north of Mandalay.
“The bombs landed onto the ruby mines. We heard there were problems between ruby miners and someone tipping off the location to the military,” a Mogok resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) seized control of the vital ruby mining hub of Mogok Township, on July 24.
This was during Operation Shan-Man, in which the TNLA and Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MPDF) launched twin offensives in Mandalay and northern Shan State, on June 25.
The TNLA confirmed the airstrikes on social media but it has yet to respond to DVB requests for specific details about the attacks.
The Myanmar Air Force conducted airstrikes near a golf course in Mogok on Jan. 8, but there were no reported casualties.
Twenty civilians were killed and 13 others were injured by airstrikes on Mogok in November. The TNLA is currently operating its administration and conducting reconstruction efforts in Mogok together with the town’s residents, according to its spokesperson.
