Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government’s defense ministry claims junta forces suffered heavy losses in Kyauktaga Township, Bago Region, on Wednesday.
The shadow ministry said on Thursday that its resistance groups and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the country’s oldest revolutionary group the Karen National Union, attacked around 60 Light Infantry Battalion 589 troops at Thamin Inn Kone village in the east of the township for about nine hours.
Other junta units based in nearby Thahtay Kone village and Kyauktaga town supported ground troops during the fighting with shelling and a fighter jet conducted two airstrikes against resistance forces, said the Special Commando Battalion that coordinated the attack.
More than 30 regime soldiers were killed and around 24 weapons, including an anti-drone jammer and a large quantity of ammunition, were seized, said the civilian ministry.
A resistance fighter and two KNLA troops were killed in the fighting, it said.
Kyauktaga People’s Defense Force on Thursday said the junta has cut off phone connections in the area. The junta has not retrieved its dead soldiers from the area, it added.
Resistance groups say they have stepped up attacks in Bago Region in recent months.
On Wednesday, resistance groups raided a police station in Nyaung Pin Thar village, Phyu Township, killing two regime troops and injuring four others, said the ministry.
It said drones were used to drop two 60mm bombs on regime forces in a forest near a police station in Oak Phyat village in the township on Tuesday. Four regime troops were killed and three injured, it said.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
Resistance snipers attacked the police station and used explosives, killing one junta soldier and injuring three others.
