Several more junta bases were seized and over 90 regime forces were reportedly killed in the last four days as People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up coordinated attacks on regime targets across the country.
In one case, ethnic armed groups and other resistance groups took complete control of the strategic town of Kunlong on a key Myanmar-China trade route in northern Shan after occupying the final military headquarters that had been commanding the junta’s defense of the town.
Incidents were reported in Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Rakhine states and Sagaing and Mandalay regions.
The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.
Some military casualties could not be independently verified.
Strategic junta town seized after 12 days of clashes in northern Shan
A video shows regime bases, including the junta’s local headquarters, and Kunlong Town after they were occupied by resistance groups during Operation 1027. / The Kokang
As part of anti-regime Operation 1027, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) claimed to have seized the strategic junta town of Kunlong on the Lashio-Chin Shwe Haw trade route on Sunday after attacking and seizing regime bases for 12 days.
The MNDAA said it had complete control of the town on Sunday after attacking and seizing a major strategic junta base on the opposite side of the town on the bank of the Salween River.
After the raid, the MNDAA and allied resistance groups seized a large haul of weapons and ammunition including three armored tanks, multiple rocket launchers and 122-mm howitzers.
As of Sunday, around 137 junta bases had been seized in the first 15 days of Operation 1027. The junta has not been able to retake any of its bases.
Two regime bases occupied in northern Shan
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) said it attacked and seized two junta bases in Bawgyo Village in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State on Sunday. The raids were part of Operation 1027, the TNLA said.
Clashes resume in Rakhine as ceasefire agreement breaks down
The Arakan Army (AA) reportedly occupied a junta base as it launched attacks on two junta border guard outposts in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State early on Monday, according to Rakhine local media.
The ethnic army and the junta agreed to a temporary ceasefire agreement in November last year.
However, the AA, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNAA) have been conducting the massive, joint anti-regime Operation 1027 since Oct. 27, attacking and seizing junta bases across northern Shan and Kachin states and in the upper parts of Sagaing and Mandalay regions.
Junta fighter jet shot down, more regime bases seized in Kayah
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) claimed it and several other armed resistance groups managed to seize seven junta bases and shoot down a junta fighter jet on the first day of its anti-regime Operation 11.11, named after the date of its launch on Saturday.
The operation is being conducted by the KNDF, Karenni Army (KA), Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF), Urban Revolution Front (URF) and People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs).
On the first day, the combined resistance groups raided and seized seven junta bases along with a haul of weapons and ammunition in Demoso and Loikaw townships and neighboring Mobye town in southern Shan State. Several junta soldiers were also detained.
The junta responded with heavy indiscriminate artillery and air strikes, causing civilian casualties and damaging houses.
In the operation, joint resistance groups shot down a junta fighter jet using two 50-caliber machine guns.
Junta base seized in Kachin
The Kachin Region People’s Defense Force (Mogaung) said that as part of Operation 11.11 it raided and seized a junta base in Mogaung Township, Kachin State on Saturday.
It also attacked the junta’s Infantry Battalion 105 in Sarr Hmaw Village in the township on Saturday. After the attack, junta bases shelled Sarr Hmaw until Sunday, killing at least one villager and injuring some others, the PDF group said.
Military artillery base bombed in Sagaing
Kantbalu Underground Warriors and other local resistance groups used 107-mm rocket bombs to attack the military’s Artillery Battalion 6006 in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday, according to Kyun Hla Activists Group, a media wing of local resistance groups.
However, details of damage and military casualties were unknown. The groups attacked the junta base as it used howitzers to randomly bomb villages nearby.
The resistance group said it arrested three pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members in the township last Friday.
Clash erupts in Sagaing
At least five regime troops including a captain were killed and six others injured in Banmauk Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when Katha District PDF Battalion 4 clashed with a military unit of 50 troops from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion 8 near villages, said the Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).
The PDF group seized six weapons, ammunition and military equipment from the junta unit.
Junta suffers heavy losses in resistance attack in Sagaing
The Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) claimed its armed PDF units killed around 80 soldiers in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region last Friday.
The PDFs and other local resistance groups jointly ambushed a military unit of 200 troops traveling from Kyunhla Township to Kawlin town, which recently fell to resistance groups, near a village in Kantbalu Township.
Twenty other regime forces also suffered injuries, said the Defense Ministry. The Irrawaddy was unable to confirm the report independently.
The NUG’s Defense Ministry added that its PDF groups seized 59 weapons and ammunition from the regime unit.
Resistance groups raid village administration office in Mandalay
At least seven regime forces were killed and 12 others injured in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region last Thursday when six resistance groups attacked regime forces stationed at the junta-run general administration office in Zayat Kwin Village, said Thabeikkyin Wild Elephant Guerrilla Force, which joined the attack.
Resistance fighters attacked the regime forces after dropping nine drone bombs on the office.
