Around 150 Junta Troops Killed By Myanmar Resistance Over Weekend
By The Irrawaddy 8 November 2021
Around 150 junta soldiers were reportedly killed over the weekend during firefights with civilian resistance forces across Myanmar.
The People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) have escalated operations, including urban attacks, against the regime forces in Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions and Chin, Shan, Kayah and Mon states.
The Kawlin Revolution, the media wing of the Kawlin PDF, said 50 junta soldiers and a civilian fighter were killed during fighting in the west of the Sagaing Region township on Sunday afternoon.
After sustaining heavy losses, the junta used two helicopters to attack the PDF, according to the Kawlin Revolution.
A video shows helicopters attacking the PDF.
In late October, around 85 junta soldiers were reportedly killed by the Kawlin PDF over two days.
On Sunday around 25 junta soldiers were killed during firefights with the PDF in Kyunhla Township, which is adjacent to Kawlin, in Sagaing Region.
On Sunday morning, around 10 junta soldiers were reportedly killed in a Kyunhla PDF ambush between Inhla and Ayechantha villages.
Another 15 troops were reportedly killed when retreating PDF members ambushed regime forces following them near Ayechantha village in the township, according to the Kyunhla PDF.
A civilian resistance fighter with a homemade rifle received minor injuries, it said. Kyunhla PDF claimed that regime forces torched houses in Ayechantha after the firefight.
Thousands of residents have fled their homes after four military deployments raided villages in the west of Kyunhla.
Pale PDF claimed to have killed at least 18 junta soldiers and injured many others in ambushes on regime troops in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, on Sunday.
On Sunday, the PDF ambushed three detachments of infantry, including vehicles, in the township using landmines, said Pale PDF.
Several resistance groups in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, on Sunday ambushed regime troops in a vehicle and five motorbikes traveling from Myaung police station, according to Myaung Special PDF. The military casualties are unknown.
After the ambush, regime troops opened fire at random, Myaung PDF said.
Another 26 junta soldiers were allegedly killed by the Chin Defense Force in Mindat during fighting on the Mindat-Matupi highway in Mindat Township, Chin State, during the weekend.
On Sunday, the CDF in Mindat ambushed two military convoys on the highway. At least 18 junta soldiers were killed and a civilian fighter was injured in his thigh, the CDF said.
On Saturday, eight junta soldiers were killed and many injured when the Mindat CDF, hiding amid roadside drains and trees, ambushed a military convoy on the highway.
On Wednesday and Thursday, around 35 junta soldiers were reportedly killed in a Mindat CDF ambush on the highway.
Yaw Defense Force claimed to have ambushed a military convoy of 30 vehicles carrying around 100 troops on the Gangaw-Kale highway in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, on Sunday.
At least 10 soldiers were killed and more than 15 injured, according to the group.
Meanwhile, 10 junta soldiers were allegedly killed when the Kyaukhtu PDF ambushed seven military vehicles on the Kyaukhtu-Tilin highway in Khaukhtu, Gangaw District, Magwe Region, on Sunday afternoon.
Many soldiers were also injured and a vehicle was damaged. Kyaukhtu PDF urged people only to use highways in the township in an emergency due to potential attacks.
Attacks on the junta were reported in Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Region, and Thaton Township in Mon State on Sunday and Saturday. The military casualties are unknown.
On Saturday, three regime troops were killed and five others injured during a firefight with the combined Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and Karenni Army, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, in Demoso Township in Kayah State.
A combined group of Pekon PDF and the KNDF attacked a military battalion in Pekon Township, Shan State, on Saturday. In the shootout, three junta troops were killed and many others wounded, the KNDF said.
Houses were damaged when the battalion used artillery to attack residential areas of Pekon, according to the group.
Two junta soldiers were killed and at least five injured during fighting with PDFs in Thayetchaung Township, Tanintharyi Region, on Sunday.
Urban attacks
On Sunday, PDFs in Yangon reported four attacks on regime forces, including two military camps and a township general administration office, in Mingaladon Township.
On Sunday afternoon, a soldier and vendor were killed and three other troops injured when an armed group attacked the junta-run administration office in Thingangyun ward.
A video went viral online showing the gate of the office being attacked by a gunman from a moving vehicle.
A resident told The Irrawaddy that four soldiers on sentry at the gate and a female vendor near them were gunned down.
Two other attacks that targeted a military battalion and an air-force base were reported in the township on Sunday. However, military casualties are unknown.
Another shootout between regime forces and the gunmen was reported at South Dagon Township, Yangon Region, on Sunday.
The shootout came after a man regarded by his neighbors as a thug, who was released from prison by the junta and was accused of being an informant, was attacked by gunmen, according to a resident.
However, it is unknown if he survived.
With the exception of Rakhine State, the regime is facing increasingly fierce attacks and ambushes from PDFs and some ethnic armed forces across the country.
Meanwhile, the regime forces have continued to commit atrocities, including bombarding residential areas, looting and burning houses, arbitrary of killing civilians and using civilians as human shields, especially in Magwe and Sagaing regions and Chin, Shan and Kayah states.
You may also like these stories:
Electricity Office in Myanmar Capital Targeted With Bomb Blast
Almost 100 Myanmar Junta Soldiers Killed in Two Days: Resistance
Myanmar Junta’s Tactic of Re-Arresting Political Prisoners is ‘Psychological Warfare’
