Fighting erupted between junta troops and local resistance forces near Kyon Laung village in Ye Township, Mon State, on the afternoon of 9 January, with travel restrictions imposed on locals fleeing from Kyon Laung and surrounding villages, according to local sources.
The clash occurred after the junta troops advanced towards Kyon Laung village with a large number of troops on 9 January.
Due to the fighting, residents from Kyon Laung, Kyauk Mi Chaung, and nearby areas have fled their homes. Since 8 January, authorities have restricted travel on the road between Kyon Laung and Ye Chaung Phyar area, forcing displaced locals to seek refuge only in villages under New Mon State Party’s control.
A local resident from the New Mon State Party-controlled territory reports that in the current fighting, the Ye-based Military Operations Command 19 is conducting long-range artillery strikes, resulting in houses being burned and destroyed.
Commenting on the ongoing fighting, a local resident from the New Mon State Party-controlled territory said: “They’ve been reinforcing their troops since this morning. Nobody’s left in Kyon Laung village now. We’ve heard reports of houses burning down, but we don’t know about other casualties yet.”
Locals report that both the military junta troops and allied resistance forces were building up their troops on the morning of 9 January, leading many residents to anticipate intense fighting between the two sides.
Furthermore, due to the blockade of the road between Kyon Laung and the Ye Chaung Phyar area, a Ye local resident wrote on social media that people are now traveling through the Yit Chaung Ka Ni area to reach the Kyaung Ywar-Ye road section, where junta soldiers are conducting strict inspections.
Furthermore, a Ye resident wrote on social media: “They’re conducting intense inspections on people traveling from Yit Chaung Kan Ni to Kyaung Ywar-Ye road section. Junta checkpoint 591 is checking everyone.”
The majority of those displaced are women, the elderly, and children. Local residents are expressing concerns about the challenges of long-term displacement due to the sudden nature of their evacuation.
According to locals, the junta column of around 100 soldiers entered the area on the morning of 8 January. The Ye-based Military Operations Command 19 has been conducting artillery shelling on the village, while resistance forces have been responding with drone attacks. This has resulted in continuous exchanges of heavy and small arms fire since yesterday.
The military council claims they launched the offensive after receiving intelligence about resistance members operating within the village.
In November last year, an artillery shell fired by junta troops had exploded within the compound of the Basic Education Middle School in Old Kyon Laung village, according to local residents.
Sent by IMNA.