An estimated 34 Myanmar junta forces, including a lieutenant colonel and two captains, were reportedly killed in resistance ambushes in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning a shootout broke out in the township when five resistance groups attacked around 50 regime troops and allied Pyu Saw Htee militia members attempting to raid Shwegu Tae village, according to the groups.
The regime forces deployed at nearby Pyin Htaung village shelled Shwegu Tae in the morning.
In the shootout, more than 12 soldiers were killed and many others injured and they retreated to Pyin Htuang carrying the bodies of the soldiers, the groups claimed.
In the evening another five resistance groups ambushed around 40 soldiers and an armored vehicle on a bridge using 12 landmines, while there were heading to Pyin Htaung to remove the dead and injured, said Khin-U Support Organization (KSO), a resistance group involved in the attack.
Ten soldiers were killed in the ambush and three others were injured, KSO claimed. After the ambush, the bodies of soldiers were taken away by motorbike.
On Thursday, Khin-U People’s Defense Alliance claimed the groups killed 34 regime soldiers, including two captains, in the clashes.
It said the junta is reportedly planning to transport the dead and injured from Pyin Htaung using helicopters.
The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the casualty numbers.
It urged people to avoid junta checkpoints and stay at home to avoid being arrested.
Myanmar’s junta faces attacks from resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations across the country nearly every day.
