The People’s Defense Force (PDF) claims to have killed dozens of junta troops in western Bago Region in a major offensive launched just days before regime elections.
PDF fighters under the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) led simultaneous attacks on regime bases in three townships along the road running north from Yangon to Pyay on Wednesday morning. Two of the townships— Zigon and Minhla—are due to vote in phase two of the regime’s election on Sunday.
The coordinated attacks killed at least 40 regime personnel and injured many others, according to PDF Military Operational Zone No. 2 on Thursday.
The largest regime losses came in Nattalin Township, where Bago and Yangon PDF forces raided the police station in Taung Nyo town, reportedly killing 20 junta forces and injuring many others in a four-hour battle. The regime responded with airstrikes, according to resistance sources.
At around 5 am the same morning, PDF groups under the Bago Command attacked regime troops and allied Pyu Saw Htee militias at Mee Kauk Pin village in neighboring Zigon township. Frontline resistance sources said they killed nine regime troops before seizing the regime base. Its defenders reportedly fled to a junta post in a nearby village.
“Our PDF brothers coordinated with other armed groups to capture the base in a well-planned operation. Ground forces witnessed the bodies of regime troops in their bunkers,” Ko Kayin Lay of Thayawady District PDF Battalion No.1 told The Irrawaddy.
In neighboring Minhla Township, the Bago PDF, Yangon PDF and Asho Chin Defense Force led attacks on a police outpost and junta position at the Sitkwin junction, reportedly killing 10 junta personnel. One resistance fighter was killed and five others wounded, according to PDF Military Operational Zone 2.
Hundreds of vehicles were stuck on the Yangon-Pyay road for hours as civilians fled the fighting.
Clashes spread to eastern Bago on Friday morning, as resistance groups attacked regime bases on the old Yangon-Mandalay highway in Oktwin and Kyauktaga townships. Resistance fighters captured Taw Kywe Inn on the highway in Kyauktaga Township after seizing at least three junta positions in the town, according to locals.
