The Myanmar junta has been conducting airstrikes along the border of Bago Region’s Taungoo District (Htan Tabin Township) and Kayin State’s Thandaunggyi Township since 6 March, resulting in the deaths of four people, including an elderly woman, and injuring many others, according to local residents.

“As far as I know, they began firing 6 March afternoon and continued into the evening. They fired again this morning on 7 March, and about 15 minutes ago, Taungoo Air Force planes flew over the area,” said a local resident from Kui Gyi (San Pya) village at 3:30 pm on 7 March.

From 4 pm on 6 March until 7 March, the Military Council has been conducting airstrikes in Magi Kone, Ye U Taung, and Kyauk Gyi Pauk villages on the border of Htan Tabin Township, as well as in Thapyay Nyunt village, adjacent to Kyaukgyi Pauk village in Thandaunggyi Township. Additionally, the junta has been bombing, shelling, and using machine guns to attack the village of Magyi Taw, which borders both Htan Tabin and Kyaukgyi townships, with aircraft.

The two consecutive days of airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of three people: a woman in her 50s and a man from Makyi Taw village, as well as a woman from Kyaukgyi Pauk village. At least seven locals have been injured, and several houses have been burned down, according to a military source.

Similarly, a drone bomb flown by the junta struck a village in Kui Gyi (San Pya) village in Htan Tabin Township on 7 March, killing an elderly woman in her 80s and seriously injuring two other women.

“They are also bombing and shooting with machine guns. Many houses are burning, and the upper part of Kyaukgyi Pauk village is on fire. They are also dropping incendiary bombs. They bombed my house, and an incendiary bomb fell in front of it. The bomb exploded, setting fire to three houses next to mine. Since it was a black area, it was already under heavy fire,” said a local resident from Makyi Taw village.

In addition to the airstrikes, the Military Council camp in Myo Soe village and the 73rd Infantry Battalion have been shelling the villages of Kyaukgyi Pauk, Makyi Taw, Thapyay Nyunt, and Kui Gyi (San Pya) with heavy weapons for two consecutive days since yesterday, according to local sources.

Two local sources confirmed that fighting has been ongoing between the Military Council and the joint forces of the revolutionary groups near Kyaukgyi Pauk and Thapyay Nyunt since 6 March. They also reported that this afternoon, the Military Council set fire to Thapyay Nyunt village, where they were stationed.

The areas targeted by artillery shelling and airstrikes are located within the territory of Brigade (2) Taw U (Taungoo District) of the Karen National Union (KNU).

Due to the ongoing airstrikes by the Military Council, residents from nearby villages, including Inn Magi Kone, Ye U Taung, Kyauk Gyi Pauk, Makyi Taw, Tha Pyay Nyunt, Kui Gyi (San Pya), and Ta Lai Ai, are fleeing to urban areas such as Zarat Gyi and Taungoo, as well as taking refuge near the forest, according to a local woman.