Myanmar junta loses bases, scores of troops in four days of resistance attacks

The Myanmar junta lost over 50 troops and more bases over the last four days as People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets across the country, The Irrawaddy reports.

In one case, the junta has been accused of using globally banned chemical bombs to retake a base from an ethnic rebel group in northern Shan.

Incidents were reported in Shan and Rakhine states and Sagaing, Bago and Tanintharyi regions.

The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) accused the Myanmar junta of using chemical weapons on Saturday during its successful operation to retake the strategic base of Sakhan Thit Kone, which had been seized by TNLA troops the previous day in Namkham Township, northern Shan State.

After being bombed with the chemical weapons, the TNLA troops suffered from dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, extreme agitation, fatigue, and low blood oxygen despite suffering no external wounds.

The junta also used such chemical weapons in an attack on TNLA troops in Lashio Township, northern Shan State on Nov. 4.

The TNLA said the junta is committing war crimes by using the chemical weapons, which are banned globally.

Clashes continue to be reported in northern Shan

Several clashes were reported in Namkham Township, northern Shan State on Sunday as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) continued to attack regime bases, said the ethnic rebel group.

The TNLA attacked and seized the Pan Say junta base, where regime forces and a pro-junta militia group are stationed, in Namkham on Sunday morning.

It also attacked the Sakhan Thit Kone junta base, which the junta recaptured from the TNLA by using chemical bombs on Saturday.

TNLA troops also attacked the base of military Light Infantry Battalion 144 in Namkham Township.

Junta base, border gate seized in northern Shan

As part of Operation 1027, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said it seized the Pen Saing border gate with China after dropping drone bombs on regime forces in Mongko Township, northern Shan State on Sunday morning.

It also occupied another junta outpost in the Tar Shwe Htan area in northern Shan on Sunday. The MNDAA said that so far, 154 junta bases have been seized in Operation 1027.

Junta border guard outpost seized in Rakhine

The location of the Done Nyo Junta border outpost seized by the Arakan Army (AA) in Maungdaw Township last Thursday. / AA
Ethnic Rakhine armed group the Arakan Army (AA) claimed to have seized the junta Border Guard outpost of Done Nyo on the border with Bangladesh in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State last Thursday.

After junta troops refused to surrender to the resistance, the AA attacked and seized the stronghold within 27 hours, amid junta air strikes. The AA said it seized 18 soldiers along with 40 weapons. Many other regime forces were also killed, and resistance casualties were also reported.

Regime forces killed in resistance raids in Tanintharyi

At least 10 regime forces were killed in Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region on Sunday when Dawei Guerrilla Revolutionary Force (DGRF) conducted a surprise attack on a group of regime forces having drinks at a pagoda in Maung Mae Shaung Village, the resistance group said.

On the previous night, the resistance groups ambushed 40 junta troops from the Phayar Mae junta outpost in the same village while they were traveling to a pagoda. After being ambushed, the junta unit retreated to the Phayar Mae outpost.

Dozens of junta troops killed in intense clash in Bago

The Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) claimed that over 40 junta soldiers as well as three resistance fighters were killed in Yedashe Township, Bago Region last Friday when several resistance groups jointly clashed with 150 junta soldiers of Light Infantry battalions 84 and 19 who had taken up positions in the monastery and school of Padauk Kone Village.

Eight other resistance fighters were injured. After the clash, the remaining regime forces used a cargo tricycle and boats to retrieve the dead bodies of soldiers.

Police station pounded in Sagaing

Myaung Special People Defense Force (MSPDF) said it and other resistance groups used improvised remote-controlled airplanes and makeshift rocket bombs to attack a police station serving as the stronghold of regime soldiers and policemen in Kyauk Yit Village in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region last Friday.

A junta soldier was killed and many others injured, the group said.