A Myanmar junta airstrike on Chauk Township in Magwe Region killed at least 14 people and injured many more on Sunday, according to the Chauk Revolution Army (CRA).
Over 500 junta troops advanced into the township in three groups on October 25. Troops clashed with the CRA near Htein San village, the armed group said.
Resistance forces retreated and junta troops occupied and torched Gwaybin Lay and Na Ywal villages.
At least 33 Na Ywal village homes were burned, according to a CRA member.
Resistance groups attacked junta soldiers near Na Ywal on Sunday. The junta troops retreated and raided Ywar Ma village.
“There were heavy clashes near Ywar Ma. They suffered heavy losses,” said the CRA member.
After suffering heavy casualties, the junta launched an airstrike on Ywar Ma village on Sunday. A bomb hit the village monastery, killing at least 14 displaced people.
“Two people died instantly and another 12 died later from their injuries. The military is now advancing into other villages,” said Ko Chit of the Magwe People’s Strike Committee.
The committee said over 20,000 people from 22 Chauk villages have fled their homes to avoid junta raids and airstrikes.
Eleven resistance forces, including the CRA, Kyaukpadaung Defense Force and Magwe People’s Defense Force, are battling the junta in Chauk.
The groups say that since October 25 numerous junta troops have been killed but the raids on Chauk villages continue.
In clashes at Ywar Ma, three resistance fighters were killed and seven others severely injured. At least 20 village houses were burned down by junta troops on Sunday.
Chauk, 25km south of Bagan, is close to the Mandalay Region border and is on the Irrawaddy River.
The township has crude oil and natural gas reserves.
Pauk and Chauk townships in Magwe Region have reported strong resistance to the junta but have seen less violence than Yaw Township.
The last major clashes were reported in Chauk in September last year.
