At least 20 Burma army soldiers have perished and more than 40 wounded during last week’s fighting with the Chin National Army (CNA) and the other Chin resistance groups in the Timit Valley, according to the CNA’s political wing, the Chin National Front (CNF).
CNF spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told Khonumthung News that the enemy soldiers were killed during clashes from 3 to 8 July. He said they had forced two columns to retreat, but couldn’t say whether the soldiers returned to Hakha.
The columns of 300 soldiers from five battalions were sent from the capital of Chin State, leading to fierce fighting in the Timit Valley in July. At the same time, the regime has been shelling with artillery from afar and flying air strikes against them.
During last week’s clashes, they were attacked three times by a fighter jet.
“They want to send more soldiers to their military base in Thangtlang town” and “gradually expand their territory in Thangtlang…That’s why they launched this military operation” at the end of May, explained Salai Htet Ni. The Chin groups are trying to prevent them from reaching their stronghold in the town.
During the recent fighting, the groups captured 4 assault rifles and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the Burma army.
Predicting more airstrikes, the Chin soldiers have told civilians to build bunkers to protect themselves against bombardments.