Around 50 junta soldiers including the chief of the tactical operation command were killed in the three-day intense fighting between the military council and a combined force of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Htigyaing Township of Sagaing Region, according to the PDF members.
The military council’s jet fighter conducted airstrikes seven times as the military council suffered heavy casualties during the battles from 22 April to 24 April.
“At least 50 junta soldiers were killed as fighting took place for three consecutive days. One member from the combined force was killed and five wounded in the fighting. At around 5 pm yesterday, the military council picked up the body of the chief of tactical operation command by helicopter.
Following the death of the chief of tactical operation command, the jet fighters flew eight times as the military council’s jet fighter conducted airstrikes seven times,” said a Htigyaing PDF member.
The high-ranking military officer killed in the battle is Ko Ko Thet, deputy chief of tactical operation command of Sagaing Region.
There were no reports of any casualties from the combined force. The military council burned three villages, namely Waegyi, Tawma and Phonekone. Five houses in Welgyi village. The junta soldiers burned Tawma village today and yesterday. The junta soldiers are burning Phonekone village this morning, according to a local.
Due to the current battles, over 1,000 locals from Warpoechaung, Marathein, Tawma, Phonekone, Welgyi, Doebin and Michaungaike villages in the southern part of Htigyaing Township are taking shelter in safer places, according to the PDF members.
Fighting took place with a combined force of the KIA and the PDF as the military column entered Nyaungbinthar village from the south of Htigyaing Township on the afternoon of 21 April.
Sent by KNG