At least 31 Myanmar junta forces as well as 27 resistance fighters were killed in the last five days as People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets across the country.
In one case, 24 resistance fighters and two civilian administrators were massacred after being arrested by a military unit in Sagaing Region.
The incidents were reported in Kachin, Mon and Karen states and Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions.
The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from the PDFs and EAOs.
Some military casualties could not be independently verified.
Military security office occupied in Kachin jade town
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of the country’s most powerful ethnic armed groups, and PDF forces raided and occupied the military security affairs office in the jade town Hpakant, Kachin State early Monday, according to local Kachin media outlets.
During the raid, other members of the joint resistance groups also attacked regime forces at the township police station to prevent them from reinforcing the military office.
However, casualties on both sides were unknown.
26 resistance members massacred in Sagaing
Twenty-four resistance fighters and two civilian administrators were killed after being detained by a military unit in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region last Friday.
The group of fighters armed with improvised weapons and knives were trapped and arrested by a military unit of over 30 troops while moving from Myinmu to nearby Myaung Township, a local resistance group told The Irrawaddy.
Military unit attacked in Sagaing Region’s Pale
Resistance members clash with regime forces in Pale Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday. / BLA
At least 20 regime forces suffered injuries in Pale Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when Black Leopard Army, one of the armed wings of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), ambushed a military unit of 150 troops in the township.
The regime forces were attacked while leaving Kan Daunt Police station.
Regime forces killed in resistance mine ambush in Sagaing
At least 12 regime forces including a captain were killed on the spot in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region last Wednesday when the Burma Rangers resistance group used a cluster of eight land mines to ambush a military unit of 200 troops on the Shwebo-Kyauk Myaung road, said the group.
The junta troops were performing security duties on the road to protect a military convoy that was transporting a medical team to provide treatment to some local residents as a public relations stunt, the resistance group said.
After the ambush, the remaining regime forces opened fire indiscriminately. The bodies of killed and injured soldiers were transported to Shwebo Public Hospital in three vehicles.
Military bases occupied in upper Sagaing
Homalin PDF claimed to have seized three military bases from regime forces and the junta-allied Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in two villages in Homalin Township, upper Sagaing Region last Friday.
They raided the three junta bases simultaneously. At least three regime forces as well as a resistance member were killed.
The resistance forces, running low on ammunition, had to retreat from the junta bases as 300 junta reinforcements arrived in the area.
Police station bombed in Mandalay
A blast occurs at the entrance of the police station in Palate town, Sintgaing Township on Saturday night. / PAFD
People’s Army to Fight Dictatorship (PAFD) said it threw a grenade into a group of six policemen who were closing the door of the police station in Palate Town in Sintgaing Township, Mandalay Region on Saturday night.
Four policemen were seen lying on the ground after the blast. Another police officer responded with firearms, but all resistance members escaped from the area without casualties, the group said.
Junta forces attacked in Mon
A junta soldier was killed and another injured in Ye Township, Mon State on Saturday when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), and PDF groups under the NUG jointly attacked regime forces from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion 588 in the township, said the Joint Operation Command of the NUG’s Military Region 3.
The regime forces were attacked near Mauk Ka Nin Village, the group said.
Police station attacked in Magwe
Chauk Guerrilla Force said it and two other PDF groups used grenades to attack junta police in the bunkers of the township police station in Chauk town, Magwe Region on Saturday.
All resistance fighters escaped without casualties despite being chased and attacked by the regime forces.
Military weapons factory bombed in Magwe
Magwe District PDF Battalion 2 said it and two other resistance groups used 107-mm rocket bombs to attack Military Weapons Factory 15 based in Aunglan Township, Magwe Region on Saturday.
However, details of damage and regime casualties were unknown.
On the same day, it and two other PDF groups triggered a land mine to ambush a military vehicle patrolling in Magwe town, Magwe Region. Regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured in the attack.
Junta troops killed in clash in Karen Sate
The Defense Ministry of the NUG said at least 10 regime forces were killed and 20 injured in a clash in Kawkareik Township, Karen State on Saturday when its PDF armed wings and the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), another armed wing of the KNU, attacked a military unit heading to a monastery in Kyondoe Town.
Late that night, regime forces retrieved the bodies of dead soldiers from the clash site.
In the clash, two resistance fighters suffered minor injuries, said the Defense Ministry.
Junta sniper killed in resistance attack in Karen
A junta sniper was killed by a resistance sniper during an attack on a military base in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Saturday, said the PDF group Cobra Column 2 Venom, which joined the attack.
After the sniper attack, the group said, it and other resistance groups including the KNLA attacked a military base on the hill on which Shwe Aye Myaing pagoda stands.
Five other junta troops also suffered injuries.
Last Wednesday, the joint resistance groups attacked the base, injuring Colonel Win Kyaw, a deputy battalion commander.
