At least 26 Myanmar junta troops as well as a resistance fighter were killed in the last four days as People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets across the country.
Incidents were reported in Shan and Kayah states and Sagaing, Mandalay and Bago regions.
The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.
Some military casualties could not be independently verified.
Junta renews clashes with another rebel group in Shan
Fierce clashes between regime forces and the Shan State Army (SSA), the armed wing of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), resumed at two locations in Laikho Township, Shan State on Sunday when the junta conducted offensives against the resistance bases, said the SSPP.
First, a clash broke out near Nant Pauk Village in the township, when 70 junta troops raided an SSPP base.
Later that morning, SSA fighters attacked troops of military Light Infantry Battalion 573 stationed in Matlang Village in the township.
Details of casualties for both sides were unknown. In the days leading up to the clashes, regime forces shelled SSPP areas in the township.
The junta has repeatedly demanded that the SSPP move its 10 bases out of Laikho Township, but the group has refused.
Junta soldiers gunned down by resistance snipers in Sagaing
Resistance snipers ambush a military flotilla on the Chindwin River on Saturday. / Chaung U Revolution Army
Chaung U Revolution Army said at least three regime forces were gunned down in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when it and other resistance groups used sniper rifles to ambush a military flotilla of five vessels on the Chindwin River.
Ten improvised heavy weapons were also used to attack the vessels. The flotilla responded indiscriminately with 40-mm and 60-mm explosives.
Military flotilla ambushed in Sagaing
Resistance groups engage a military flotilla on the Chindwin River in Salingyi Township on Saturday. / MRDA
Ten more regime soldiers were killed and some injured in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when several resistance groups ambushed a military flotilla of five vessels including two gunboats on the Chindwin River, said Myanmar’s Royal Dragon Army (MRDA), which coordinated the attack.
The flotilla was reportedly transporting aviation fuel. After being ambushed, the flotilla stopped at the port of Monywa town.
Several resistance groups ambushed the flotilla along the Chindwin River in Sagaing Region on Saturday.
Military unit besieged in Sagaing
Combined resistance forces clash with a military unit of 50 troops in Shwebo Township last week. / MDF (Shwebo)
At least five regime forces were killed and three injured in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region in the past week when local resistance groups besieged a military detachment for six days, said Myanmar Defense Force (Shwebo), which joined the attack.
On July 29, a military unit of 50 troops from the pro-regime village of Myin Chin arrived at Seik Khun Village, where they had been newly stationed. Starting July 30, more than a dozen resistance groups from various Sagaing townships cut off and launched a sustained attack on the regime forces in the village lasting six days. At the time they came under attack, the junta troops were preparing to go out and raid nearby villages.
Last Thursday, the military unit secretly attempted to return to its base in Myin Chin, but was chased down and attacked by resistance forces. A resistance fighter was killed in the clash.
Junta-run township administration office raided in upper Sagaing
Some regime troops were injured in Kawlin town, upper Sagaing Region on Saturday when Kawlin District PDF Battalion 1 raided regime forces stationed at the junta-controlled township General Administration Department office, said the resistance group.
Junta troops killed in drone strike in Mandalay
Resistance groups conduct drone strikes and ambushes on regime targets in Natogyi Township last Thursday.
Natogyi PDF said it and four other resistance groups used a drone to drop a bomb on regime forces in Phaung Chin Village in Natogyi Township last Thursday.
On the same day, the groups dropped four drone bombs on regime forces from Suu Phyu Kone Village while the troops were going out to scour the forest for resistance camps. Firearms were also used to ambush the junta troops. Five regime forces were killed and four injured, said Natogyi PDF.
Junta forces ambushed in Bago
A junta soldier was killed in Phyu Township, Bago Region on Saturday when snipers from a joint group comprising members of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)—the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU)—and a PDF group ambushed regime forces guarding a bridge over the Sittaung River near Oak Phyat Village, according to the Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).
Clash erupts in Bago
Four regime forces were killed and four injured in Kyauktaga Township, Bago Region last Thursday when KNLA and PDF groups attacked a military unit raiding Thamin Kone Village at 4 a.m., said the NUG’s Defense Ministry.
On that afternoon, a military unit stationed in nearby Thahtay Kone Village shelled Thamin Kone. A 16-year-old boy was killed when one of the junta explosives hit his house.
Clashes continue in Kayah State
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) said it and other resistance groups clashed with regime forces on the Mobye-Loikaw highway in Loikaw Township, Kayah State on Saturday after observing military movements in villages on the highway starting Thursday.
People are urged to avoid regime bases due to potential clashes.
