Fighting continues to intensify between the military junta and joint Chin resistance forces in Mindat, Chin State, with the military conducting airstrikes using cluster munitions, according to residents.
The military bombed the battle areas in Mindat with 120mm bombs using Y-12 aircraft around 2am on 19 December, one Mindat resident said.
“They carried out an airstrike around 2am this morning. They’re conducting airstrikes in the battle areas of Mindat, dropping 120mm bombs with Y-12 aircraft. Since it’s not nearby, I can’t say much about the exact situation,” said the Mindat resident.
Chinland Defense Force-Mindat officials say the Chin Brotherhood and allied forces have achieved significant success in the Mindat offensive operation, which began on 9 November.
According to some residents of the town, since 12 December, the military junta has been providing heavy air support with consecutive bombing raids using cluster munition not only during the day but also at night.
After more than a month of the Mindat offensive, since 12 December, joint Chin forces have been conducting offensive operations that have reached within the Infantry Battalion-274.
According to Ko Har Kalay from Mindat, on the morning of 18 December, Y-12 aircraft circled over Mindat and dropped 120mm bombs twice. On the morning of 17 December, the military also conducted two bombing raids using 500-pound bombs and 120mm bombs, and delivered food supplies and ammunition to IB-274.
The junta has stationed troops at strategic locations in Mindat, including IB-274, the General Administration Office, police station, and government department offices, while the joint Chin forces have reportedly captured some junta positions.
Local residents say the junta troops burned down around 200 houses in Mindat during the fighting.
Similarly, the Chin Brotherhood (CB) is conducting operations to capture Falam.
According to reports, the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) and Generation Z Army (GZA) from Sagaing, resistance forces from Magway Region and Yaw area, and the United League of Arakan/Arakha Army (ULA/AA), are also participating in Operation CB.