Mandalay People’s Defense Force (PDF) on Saturday claimed to have taken complete control of Singu Township in northern Mandalay Region after around 20 days of attacks on Myanmar regime targets.
Singu, 91km north of Myanmar’s second-biggest city Mandalay, is the first town seized by the PDF.
Osmond, Mandalay PDF’s spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Saturday there had been clashes with regime forces for nearly 20 days and the group had lost comrades.
The PDF released photos of weapons and ammunition and detained junta troops.
Junta airstrikes have destroyed numerous Singu houses and injured civilians, the spokesman said.
Mandalay PDF and other resistance groups are attacking regime targets in Madaya Township, adjacent to Mandalay city and it has seized nearly 30 junta bases, including an Air Defense Battalion headquarters.
Over 100 regime soldiers and their family members were reportedly detained in Madaya.
Mandalay PDF has been cooperating in Operation 1027 with the Brotherhood Alliance, attacking regime targets in Kyaukme, Nawnghkio and Mongmit townships in northern Shan State and Madaya, Singu and Mogoke townships in northern Mandalay Region since late June.
Along with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Mandalay PDF has occupied Nawnghkio town in northern Shan State and most of the Mogoke ruby hub in northern Mandalay Region.
