Myanmar’s military regime has suffered its heaviest losses in a month since the Feb. 1 coup with over 1,500 soldiers killed as fighting mounts after the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) declared war on Sept 7.
NUG’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration reported that 1,562 soldiers were killed and 552 wounded – more than double August’s death toll – in attacks by ethnic armed groups and civilian resistance fighters between Sept 7 and Oct 6.
The civilian ministry stated that 953 attacks were made on military and administrative targets and military-owned businesses.
Yangon reported the highest number of explosions with 178, followed by Mandalay with 81.
Sagaing Region topped the list for violent clashes with 81, followed by Magwe Region, Kachin State and Kayah State with 32, 30 and 22 clashes respectively, according to the report.
Since late March, people have taken up weapons, including slingshots, homemade air-guns and firearms, to resist the junta in response to the killing of peaceful, anti-regime protesters across the country.
Resistance forces step up operations against the regime after the NUG declared war against the regime on Sept 7.
The military regime’s spokesman, Major General Zaw Min Tun, admitted that attacks on junta personnel increased in Yangon and Mandalay after the NUG’s announcement.
On Oct 3, around 100 junta soldiers were killed in 37 attacks, including firefights with junta troops, ambushes on military convoys and raids on security outposts and military-owned businesses.
In June and July, around 1,130 soldiers were killed and in August, around 580 soldiers were killed, according to the NUG.
The junta forces have also escalated inspections, arrests, raids and violence, including burning down and bombarding residential areas, especially in the resistance strongholds of Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin and Kayah states.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors arrests and killings by junta forces, at least 1,160 people have been killed and more than 8,800 arrested since the coup.
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