Intense fighting is currently taking place near Nyaung Chay Htauk on the Taungup–Padaung road between the junta forces and the allied resistance forces led by the Arakha Army (AA), according to local military sources.
A local military source said, “Fierce fighting is ongoing near defense weapon factory-6 which is only about seven miles from Oke Shit Pin town and around Nyaung Chay Htauk village. Today, the military is carrying out aerial bombardments throughout the day.”
He said that since the morning of 10 May, the air force has been bombing forests, mountains, and fields near Nyaung Chay Htauk, and the fighting continues to intensify.
After the junta troops, who had recently retreated and fled from Nyaung Kyoe due to heavy casualties, were regrouped and began offensive near Nyaung Chay Htauk.
The resistance forces led by the AA ambushed them, leading to an intense battle.
“The military column that had retreated last week after attempting to advance on the Nyaung Kyoe base has now been regrouped and is active again. That column is ambushed by the AA and allied resistance forces. The fighting has been going on for a day or two already. Fighting is taking place this morning. The military column is advancing from the Nyaung Chay Htauk and defense weapon factory toward Nyaung Kyoe. So, fighting continues,” said a local military source.
The intense fighting has reportedly forced the people from nearby villagers and Nyaung Chay Htauk, to flee. The military council is not only attacking with aircraft, but also with rockets and paramotors via the battalions in Oke Shit Pin, said a local resident of Nyaung Chay Htauk.
“Fighting took place in March in Nyaung Chay Htauk. The fighting stopped, then resumed. The villagers flee, some don’t. Now that the fighting has resumed, the remaining people have to flee again. We had to run with just one piece of clothing. We couldn’t bring anything,” the local resident said.
The AA and allied forces launched an offensive on 17 March against Nyaung Kyoe tactical base in Bago Region and completely captured it on 2 April.
In the last week of April and early May, around 150 junta troops advanced with air support to retake the Nyaung Kyoe base.
However, before reaching halfway, they were forced to retreat with heavy casualties due to ambushes by the AA and allied resistance forces along the Rakhine mountain range.
Sent by Narinjara