War Against the Junta
Around 33 Myanmar junta forces and two resistance fighters were killed in the last three days as People’s Defense Force groups (PDFs) escalated their attacks on regime targets across the country.
Meanwhile, the regime used a fighter jet to bomb a school in Upper Myanmar.
Incidents were reported in Magwe, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions.
The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks by PDFs.
Some military casualty figures could not be independently verified.
20 regime forces killed in PDF attacks in Magwe
Resistance fighters engage in a fierce clash with regime forces in Kyaukhtu Township on Wednesday. / Kyaukhtu Regional PDF
At least 20 regime forces were reportedly killed in Kyaukhtu Township, Magwe Region when 10 PDF groups jointly attacked a military detachment on Tuesday and Wednesday. The groups targeted the military detachment because it was raiding and burning a village.
On Tuesday, 93 regime forces from the military base in Kyaukhtu burned houses in Latpann Village in the township after taking a Buddhist monk and three civilians as hostages.
After freeing the hostages, 10 PDF groups jointly attacked the regime forces stationed at the village, using both heavy weapons and firearms as well as conducting drone strikes, said Kyaukhtu Regional PDF, which coordinated the attacks.
After two hours of fierce fighting, the regime forces were forced out of the village, but they torched houses in adjacent Pasouk Village before retreating into a forest.
On Wednesday, the PDF groups continued to attack the same military detachment while it was at a pagoda near Myauk Ma Kyin Village in the township. After sustaining losses, the regime forces retreated into the village of Myau Ma Kyin.
In the clash, at least 10 regime forces are believed to have been killed while two PDF fighters suffered minor injuries from junta explosives, the PDF group said.
On Thursday, only 73 out of the detachment of 93 soldiers returned to their military base in Kyaukhtu.
A PDF video shows houses in Pasouk Village burning after being torched by regime forces on Tuesday.
Two junta soldiers including captain killed by PDF land mine in Sagaing
Two regime forces including a captain were killed and three others seriously injured in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday morning when two PDF groups used land mines to ambush seven soldiers from the junta police outpost in Hlataw Village, claimed Black Wolf PDF, which coordinated the attack.
The regime forces were ambushed while they were purchasing goods. The killed and injured soldiers were taken away by regime forces in a vehicle.
Following the ambush, regime forces in Hlataw Village randomly fired heavy explosives at nearby villages, the PDF group said.
10 regime forces killed in clash with PDF in Sagaing
Resistance fighters ambush a military detachment in Khin-U Township on Thursday. / KUGF
At least 10 regime soldiers were killed in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday morning when combined PDF groups attacked a military detachment raiding and destroying villages in the township, said Khin-U Local Guerrilla Force, which joined the ambush.
A video shot by the PDF group shows resistance fighters ambushing the military detachment.
Regime forces ambushed in Sagaing
Many regime soldiers are believed to have been killed or injured in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday when local PDF groups used land mines to ambush two military detachments, said Monywa Peregrin PDF group, which joined the attacks.
At 1 p.m. on Thursday, seven PDF groups used land mines to attack a military detachment traveling on the Monywa-Chaung-U highway.
Additionally, the combined group also ambushed a vehicle carrying regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee pro-regime militia members from the pro-regime village of Taw Pu on a highway, the PDF group said.
A PDF video shows a heavy blast occurring on a road.
School bombed by junta fighter jet in Sagaing
Without any provocation, a junta fighter jet bombed a school in Mongton Village in Sagaing Region’s Banmauk Township at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, said Banmauk Revolution, which shares information on the township.
Two bombs struck the school but no one was injured, the news site said, citing residents.
Junta forces attacked in Sagaing
Regime forces stationed at the Khun Taunggyi Village in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region, were shelled by eight PDF groups using drones and heavy explosives on Tuesday evening, said Shwe Bo Defense Force.
Seven PDF groups used improvised mortar shells to attack the regime forces while another resistance group conducted drone strikes on junta targets.
However, military casualties were unknown. Regime forces responded with firearms.
The PDF group urged people not to travel in the township between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. and to avoid regime forces due to potential attacks.
Pro-regime militia member assassinated in Sagaing
Farmer Revolution Force (SGG) claimed that it and another PDF group assassinated a pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia member, Ko Kyaw Saung, in Yaymyat Village in Sagaing Township, Saging Region on Thursday.
The militia member had been accusing youths of being PDF members and reporting them to junta forces in order to have them arrested, the PDF group claimed. He was also engaged in gambling businesses with the support of junta forces.
Following the assassination, a shootout occurred between the PDF fighters and regime sentries at a school nearby.
However, all resistance fighters escaped from the area without casualties, the PDF group said.
Two PDF fighters killed in Tanintharyi
Two PDF fighters were killed during a clash with regime forces in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region on Tuesday when Myeik District PDF raided the military’s Infantry Battalion 561 in the township, according to the PDF group.
In the raid, at least four regime forces were killed, the PDF group told local media.