At least seven Sagaing Region civilians have been killed and nearly 10,000 displaced by Myanmar junta airstrikes on Pale town.
The Bamar National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), led by Bo Nagar, attacked the town’s General Administration Department and police station. The regime responded with airstrikes on the town and surrounding villages. Pale is about 48km from Monya, the Sagaing Region capital.
Surrounding villages have been emptied and many town residents, including junta staff, are trapped as airstrikes continued on Tuesday, according to a resident helping displaced people.
An anti-regime fighter said: “The fighting has been fierce. The regime is using aircraft and trying to bring in ground reinforcements. We are targeting junta positions in the town.”
Rebel forces say they have confiscated junta employees’ phones to prevent information from leaking to the regime.
Seven civilians were killed by junta air and artillery attacks and at least three others injured, according to the Pale Township People’s Authority.
A member of Pale’s electrical department was killed in a bombing raid on Monday and a junta administrative clerk was badly injured and his wife and child were killed in another attack, according to the Yinmabin District Black Panther Battalion.
A Pale Township People’s Defence Team member said: “Most displaced people are taking refuge with relatives. We supply food but do not need to arrange accommodation for them.”
Houses near the public hospital were burned in an airstrike on Tuesday.
Pale Township has 189 villages and is bordered by Salingyi Township to the east, Yinmabin and Kani townships to the north, Gangaw Township to the west and Myaing Township to the south.
Around 80 percent of Pale Township is controlled by anti-regime forces with the junta holding government departments, schools and clinics in Pale town. Allied Pyu Saw Htee militias hold a few villages.
Anti-regime groups have asked civilians to dig air raid shelters.
