The People’s Defense Force (PDF) under the National Unity Government (NUG) attacked and seized a junta military outpost in Mogoke Township, Mandalay Region early on Tuesday as part of an ongoing resistance operation targeting regime forces in the area, according to two PDF battalions in Mogoke.
A combined force of fighters from PDF battalions 1221 and 1223 based in Mandalay Region launched the attack on the outpost in Yay Htwat Village in the west of Mogoke at around 5:15 a.m. and seized it after a clash lasting over one-and-a-half hours without sustaining any casualties, according to a statement issued by the battalions in Mogoke.
The PDF battalions stated that the attack was conducted as part of Operation Moe Lone Hmine (Burmese for Operation Overcast Sky), which started on Sept. 10 in Mogoke.
“We seized a light gun and a pistol, and some ammunition. We are still verifying the number of casualties on the military junta’s side,” a PDF fighter said.
Additional clashes between the PDF and junta forces broke out near Kyat Pyin Village in Mogoke Township on Tuesday morning, in which the junta military fired artillery shells, said a Mogoke resident.
“Though the clashes are occurring far from the town, no one dares to leave their homes, and the roads and streets in town have been empty for the whole day. The residents are very fearful as they have not experienced this before,” said a resident of Mogoke, which is known globally for its ruby markets.
To begin the operation on Sept. 10, combined forces of the PDF and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), launched an attack on a junta outpost on Palaung Kone San hill in which the junta military suffered at least seven casualties.
“The junta’s military suffered at least seven casualties in that day’s fighting. Though we could not seize the outpost, we were effective in reducing the number of junta troops on that hill, as some retreated,” a PDF member said.
Operation Moe Lone Hmine continued the following day with a series of clashes launched by the PDF battalions in Mogoke in cooperation with the TNLA.
On Sept. 15, intense clashes broke out in the east and west of Mogoke between the junta’s military and combined PDF/TNLA forces. After suffering heavy losses, the junta military dropped bombs on forests in the area at least three times on that day alone.
The resistance forces launched another attack on a temporary outpost between the Palaung Kone San hill outpost and Nyaung Kone Village on Sept. 19, driving out all the junta troops and seizing the outpost after a three-hour fight.
A conflict analyst who lives in Shan State remarked that Mogoke is located at a strategic point connecting Mandalay Region and northern Shan State, adding this was likely why Operation Moe Lone Hmine kicked off there.
“If the PDF can take control of that area, it would be very helpful for the revolution, as it is adjoined by areas controlled by the TNLA on the other side. But the junta will fight hard to keep it under its control,” he said.
