A fierce battle broke out on April 26th in the Nyaungwaing ward of Mobye (Mongpai) Township in southern Shan State, resulting in the deaths of 15 soldiers from the Military Council and the capture of 2 soldiers according to an official from the 1st Battalion of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Mobye.

“ After starting at around 4:00 am the battle intensified around 6:00am and lasted until 11:00 am. In the course of the fighting, 15 to 16 Military Council soldiers in Nyaungwaing were killed, and we were able to recover weapons from them”, the official claimed.

During the six-hour battle, the Military Council’s aircraft arrived and fired twice, resulting in damage to two houses in the ward. Fortunately there were no reported injuries.

Three months ago, the Junta forces deployed covert patrols in the area, causing the locals to evacuate and stop living there.

The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) troops operating around Hpekon have also issued a warning to the public advising them not to use the Mobye-Hpekon Road these days.

The Karenni State and southern Shan State are currently experiencing daily skirmishes between local resistance forces and the Military Council. These clashes have resulted in numerous casualties for the Military Council, while the resistance forces have successfully acquired a significant number of weapons and ammunition.

Due to the heavy losses suffered in ground battles, the Military Council has become increasingly reliant on air raids, resorting to bombing both combat and non-combat areas in their efforts to gain control.