Junta troops continue raiding villages in Minhla Township in western Bago Region in retaliation for a June 16 resistance attack on a regime position on the Yangon-Pyay Road.
Since June 20, the regime has responded by torching villages at the foot of Bago Yoma mountain range.
Around eight villages have been torched, a resistance fighter said.
“Around 600 junta soldiers, mostly from Infantry Battalion 1, have been raiding villages from various directions,” he said.
The resistance attack on June 16 inflicted heavy casualties on junta troops, killing at least 20 including four officers, according to the Thayawady People’s Defense Force (PDF) Battalion 3803, which took part in the attack.
Military tensions remain high across the township, locals report.
Three villages were torched on June 20 and 21, five this Monday alone, and Nga Hla San village was torched twice, on Monday and Tuesday..
The number of houses destroyed is still unknown as junta troops remain in the neighborhood and villagers dare not return home.
The regime has also bombed the area, forcing thousands of residents from nearly 40 villages in eastern Minhla Township from their homes.
On June 20, seven resistance members were killed by regime forces after they were arrested in the fighting, according to resistance groups.
Meanwhile in eastern Bago, PDFs and allies including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched simultaneous attacks on nine junta bases on the old Yangon-Mandalay Highway in Nyaunglebin, Kyauktaga, and Phyu townships in eastern Bago on Wednesday morning.
At least 20 regime forces were killed and many more injured. Two police officers and a junta soldier were captured along with weapons and ammunition.
One resistance fighter died and two others were hurt. The parallel National Unity Government’s Defense Ministry said it will increase anti-regime operations in Bago.
