Heavy clashes erupted between a junta reinforcement column advancing toward Falam Town in northern Chin State and the Chin resistance coalition, leaving junta forces with casualties.
On January 20, a junta reinforcement column of 200–300 troops set out by trucks along the Kale–Taingen-Falam Highway toward Falam Town. Six days later, on January 26, the resistance coalition ambushed the convoy between Valon and Zawngkawng villages in Falam Township, triggering fierce clashes.
“We were waiting for the column near Zawngkawng Village and launched the attack there. It’s likely that it suffered significant casualties, though the exact number is still unknown. The fighting was intense on January 26 and subsided the following day, but clashes could break out again at any time,” said Salai Nai John Kim, spokesperson for the Minister of Defence of the Chinland Council-run Government of Chinland.
Chin National Organization/Chin National Defence Force (CNO/CNDF) spokesperson Salai Timmy also claimed that an unknown number of junta troops may have been killed in the attack.
Salai Timmy noted a notable shift in the fighting, with the junta significantly stepping up its use of drones.
“The junta has significantly increased its use of drones, especially suicide drones. The convoy is believed to have split into three smaller columns to enter Falam Town,” he told Khonumthung News.
Since late last year, the junta has been attempting to advance on resistance-controlled Falam Town, deploying 800–1,000 troops along the Kale–Taingen–Falam and Kale–Waibula–Falam routes. These ground forces were backed by heavy air support and artillery bombardments, but after three months, the junta has failed to achieve its objective and is facing heavy casualties, widespread desertions, and numerous troops captured by resistance forces. In response, the junta sent reinforcements from Kale Town in Sagaing Region, but these forces were ambushed.
Junta troops are currently preparing for a renewed offensive, establishing a frontline fortification in the forest near Khuangli and Sumhrang villages, about 13 miles northwest of Falam Town.
During the three months of fighting, the junta deployed jet fighters and Y-12 utility aircraft to drop over 1,500 bombs and carried out extensive drone strikes. As a result, the Chin resistance coalition also suffered casualties.
During these clashes, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), a member of the Chin Brotherhood Alliance (CBA), Chin National Army (CNA), and other Chin resistance groups joined forces as a coalition to attack the junta.