Myanmar Regime Air Base Hit by Rockets: Military

By The Irrawaddy 17 May 2021

A Myanmar military regime air base and unit in Bago Region were attacked with rockets on Saturday, but there were no casualties in the latest offensive against the junta’s troops, who have killed at least 790 civilians since the coup on Feb. 1.

Regime-controlled newspapers said the unidentified attackers used 107-mm rockets to attack the Taungoo air base and its military unit in Bago. The Taungoo facility is one of the major air bases in country. It is located more than 100 km northeast of Yangon, the commercial capital.

One rocket fell without exploding about 100 m from where the military unit is stationed, the newspapers said.

Another three struck about 100 m, 200 m and 350 m from the air station and exploded. However, there were no reports of injuries or damage to the buildings, the military said.

Later, junta troops found six 107-mm rockets near Aike Sauk Village that were aimed at the airbase, the military said.

The military said it was still identifying those responsible for the attacks.

Local residents said the military has tightened security in the town since the attacks, conducting checks on most of the main streets and outside the base.

“We heard at least four rounds of rocket fire. We don’t know about causalities. We do not dare to go outside and look. And the air base is a bit far from us,” a resident said.

Since the military staged the coup on Feb. 1, the regime’s troops had killed at least 790 civilians and arrested 5,073 people as of Sunday. Since last month, a series of small explosions have been reported almost every day in major towns from the north to the south of the country, including the two largest cities, Yangon and Mandalay. The military blames anti-coup protesters for the blasts, claiming that democracy supporters are creating instability in the country.

Military air bases in Magwe and Meiktila were attacked with rockets in late April, but no casualties were reported.

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Two civilians were shot by junta forces in Magwe after the attacks.