Myanmar junta Mi-17 helicopter bombs allied gold mine in Homalin in "friendly fire" incident, sparks civilian terror

Mizzima

In a chaotic and potentially accidental aerial operation, a Myanmar military Mi-17 helicopter dropped three bombs on the Naung Hmaw gold mine at 11:30 am, 23 February. The site, located just 10 miles from Homalin town, is currently a joint stronghold controlled by the junta army and its ally, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA).

Local residents report that the explosions triggered a massive fire across the densely populated work site, leading many to fear significant casualties among the miners and soldiers, though verified numbers have not yet emerged.

“The bombs struck an area controlled by both the military and the SNA. It remains unclear whether this was a tactical error or a deliberate strike. The explosion triggered a massive fire, and given that this is a densely populated work site, we fear there could be many casualties, though we cannot confirm the numbers yet,” a local resident said.

The gold mine is notably larger than the nearby Pinnokesut mine, which is currently held by resistance forces.

“The two mines are located in close proximity, and both have been targeted by successive bombings. It appears the military is determined to systematically destroy these mining operations,” a source close to the resistance groups said.

On the afternoon of 22 February, the junta also carried out an airstrike on gold mining sites near Pinnokesut village in Homalin Township. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven local residents, including several women.