At least 19 civilians were killed in Myanmar after junta airstrikes targeted an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp and a town near the China border in Shan State. The attacks, which occurred late Thursday and into Friday, hit the town of Namhkam and the Bangkok IDP camp.

The military junta is facing widespread resistance after its 2021 coup, with soldiers accused of targeting civilian communities using air and artillery strikes. Lway Yay Oo, a spokesperson for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), confirmed that two areas in Namhkam were bombed around 1:00 a.m. local time on Friday. Eleven people were killed, including five men, four women, and two children, while 11 others were injured. A local political party's office was also damaged.

Namhkam, located about five kilometers from China's Yunnan province, has seen TNLA fighters claim control following last year's clashes. Meanwhile, a separate airstrike on Thursday night hit the Bangkok IDP camp in southern Shan State, killing eight, including six children. The Progressive Karenni People Force (PKPF), a local activist group, reported that more than 600 people were taking refuge in the camp, which has been targeted seven times by junta forces.

Images shared on social media revealed the destruction, with videos showing damaged buildings and injured civilians in Namhkam. The military has lost significant territory near the China border in northern Shan State to ethnic minority groups and resistance forces. This has led to rare public criticism of the junta's leadership, which earlier this week warned civilians in ethnic-held areas to brace for counterattacks.
 

BOB Post