50 Myanmar Regime Soldiers Reported Killed in Clashes
By The Irrawaddy 15 October 2021
Around 50 junta soldiers were reportedly killed between Wednesday and Friday in clashes with civilian resistance fighters in Mandalay, Sagaing, Yangon Regions and Kayah State.
People’s Defense Forces (PDF) across the country, with the exception of Rakhine State, have stepped up operations against the Myanmar military since September 7, when the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) declared a nationwide people’s defensive war against the junta.
On early Friday morning, a civilian armed force from Shwe Bo District in Sagaing Region claimed to have killed at least 12 junta soldiers in an ambush.
The group said that they attacked a regime column marching near Mon Taw Village in Khin-U Township with landmines.
Eight junta soldiers were also killed in Khin-U Township on Wednesday when two military vehicles were attacked with landmines near Myakan Village.
Around 10 junta soldiers were reported killed on Thursday afternoon after a combined force of 10 civilian armed groups mined two military vehicles in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, according to a statement by the Civilian’s Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM).
The same morning, two other military vehicles were also attacked with landmines by CDSOM. However, military casualties remain unknown.
Junta forces were also attacked in Natogyi and Kyaukse townships in Mandalay Region. Civilian fighters of the Zero Guerrilla Force raided regime troops deployed at a school in Suuphyukone Village, Natogyi Township on late Thursday night.
During the raid, the junta troops sleeping quarters were hit and at least 12 soldiers died and many others were injured, according to the Zero Guerilla Force.
Another PDF attacked junta troops traveling by train in Palate, Sintgaing Township in Mandalay Region. Some 10 junta soldiers were killed by landmines while they were inspecting the blast-affected train.
“The train is used by the junta for transporting food and supplies. Despite being a passenger train, everyone on the train was a junta soldier. No civilian passengers were on the train,” a resident told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
One junta soldier was injured on Thursday morning when unknown gunmen opened fire from a vehicle on regime troops performing sentry duty near a bridge in Yangon’s North Okkalapa Township, according to a statement from the NUG’s Defense Ministry.
Three junta soldiers were killed and four injured on Thursday morning in Kayah State, when fighters from the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) ambushed junta troops travelling to raid civilian resistance groups in Demoso Township.
The shootout between the two forces continued into the afternoon, with regime soldiers using heavy weapons and torching homes in nearby villages.
A clash between junta troops and the Karenni Army (KA), the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, also occurred in Hpasawng Township, Kayah State on Thursday evening, according to the KNDF.
Myanmar’s military has escalated its raids and acts of violence, including burning down villages and bombarding residential areas of towns, in the country’s most restive regions, including Magwe and Sagaing regions and Chin and Kayah States.
As of Thursday, 1,171 people have been slain by junta forces during their raids, crackdowns, arrests, interrogations and arbitrary killings, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Another 8,981 people, including elected government leaders, have been detained by the junta or face arrest warrants.
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