Fighting has flared up in Falam and Mindat towns in Chin State as the Myanmar military regime deploys warplanes, drones, and artillery to repel offensives by the anti-junta Chin Brotherhood Alliance (CBA).
The alliance launched Operation Chin Brotherhood on Nov. 9 with simultaneous attacks on junta positions in the two remote mountain towns, and fighting has since intensified, said alliance spokesman Salai Yaw Marn.
“The regime is using excessive air raids to defend its positions,” he said. “Junta troops from Laung Shae and Kale have deployed multiple rocket launchers and are trying desperately to defend the towns.”
The CBA said “allies” are taking part in the offensives but did not specify them. In previous operations it was joined by troops from Rakhine State’s Arakan Army and Magwe Region’s Yaw Army.
The alliance itself consists of the Zomi Federal Union, Chin National Organization, Mindat Chin National Council, Maraland and Kampelet Chin Defense Forces (CDF), and Matupi CDF Brigade 1.
In Mindat, regime troops have torched houses in several parts of town including near the police station, according to the CBA.
“Fighting has been going on daily in Mindat and Falam over the past five days,” the spokesman said. “The regime carried out daily air raids using jets, drones, and Y-12 and Y-8 aircraft. It’s also carried out two or three arson attacks per day, and several houses were burnt in each attack.”
In Falam, sources said the CBA has now captured the police station and General Administration Department, and only the junta’s Infantry Battalion 268 on the outskirts of the town is left to be fought over.
The alliance seized Kyin Dwe town in April and Matupi in June.
