Salai Htet Ni, spokesman for the Chin National Front (CNF) and its armed wing, the Chin National Army (CNA), confirmed that Chin resistance joint forces have taken over the towns of Tonzang and Cikha in northern Chin State.
He reported that on May 19, resistance forces raided the Junta's fortifications in Cikha, but the enemy had already retreated, allowing them to capture all military targets without confrontation.
"We started by using drones to bomb the Junta's base in Cikha. Then we raided their other bases and outposts. Surprisingly we found all enemy soldiers had already retreated, probably in response to the drone attacks. Then we easily captured the base without encountering any resistance”, Salai Htet Ni said.
He also confirmed that the Chin joint resistance forces successfully seized control of the Junta's 269th Infantry Battalion along with all other military installations in Tonzang.
He elaborated, “In Tonzang, the main Junta deployment was at the base of the 269th Infantry Battalion. Junta soldiers were also stationed at the town's police station and two other sectors. Now our forces have taken control of all those places. Currently our troops are conducting area clearance operations and occasional shootouts. Overall Tonzang can be declared a Junta-free area.”
At present, the Chin resistance forces stationed in Tonzang town are experiencing intermittent disruptions from both the Junta and the Zomi Revolutionary Army - Eastern Command (ZRA-EC), utilizing ambush tactics.
Salai Htet Ni reported that during the clashes in Tonzang, both the ZRA-EC and the Junta joined the town's defense against the resistance forces, and 10 ZRA-EC members and 8 Junta soldiers were being treated at the Tonzang People's Hospital, he added.
CNA and joint forces also managed to capture a ZRA-EC combatant and two Junta policemen alive.
On May 19, the Junta conducted 10 airstrikes in the area, marking the highest number in a single day during the four-day battle. Since May 15, when the resistance forces initiated their push to capture Tonzang, the Junta has been conducting daily airstrikes.
The operation to seize Tonzang marked the first town capture battle directed and executed by the Ministry of Defense of the Chin State government. A total of 14 Chin resistance factions participated in the offensive, which commenced attacking the Junta fortifications in Tonzang on May 16.
Approximately 5,000 residents of Tonzang evacuated their town due to the clashes, with at least 10 houses destroyed by the Junta's air raids.
