Fighting between Chin resistance and junta forces has been recurring in parts of northern Chin State for the past month, with reportedly heavy causalities for the Burma Army (BA), according the various armed groups who are employing hit-and-run attacks in the Thee Mit Valley between Hakha and Thangtlang townships.
Since 30 July, junta troops have been deployed to repair a bridge on the Thee Mit River, where the Chin National Army (CNA) and other armed groups attack them daily.
Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson for the Chin National Front (CNF), the political arm of the CNA, said that in late June, the military leaders summoned Chin Christian pastors to a meeting in Hakha town and told them to fix the bridge its necessary to control the area where fighting has been happening.
“Their objective is to take control of Thangtlang Township after repairing the Thee Mit Bridge, as this area is strategically important.”
Chin resistance groups destroyed the bridge, which is about 7 miles from the Chin State capital, in 2021 with improvised explosive devices and attacked it again in late July.
If the bridge was repaired, Salai Htet Ni said the BA could easily send troops, weapons, equipment and food to Thangtlang town allowing the regime to regain control of the valley and launch a clearance campaign against the resistance groups.
Chinland Defence Forces (CDF) from Zophei, Hakha, Thangtlang, Lautu and Chin Joint Defence Committee have joined the CNA in the raids against the BA in the valley.
BA Infantry Battalion (IB) 266 have fired artillery at the groups and flown weapons, equipment and food by helicopter to the capital where they’re based.
“IB 266 is attacking us every day with 120 mm mortars and 122 mm howitzers from Hakha every day…Jet fighters have also attacked us. I think clashes will escalate in the area,” the CNA spokesperson said.
During the month-long fighting, the groups have allegedly killed 50 BA soldiers and captured valuable weapons and military equipment, reports Salai Htet Ni.
Salai Thang Hel Lian, a soldier from Hakha CDF, was killed by shelling in village on 25 August and there were several other casualties on the side of the resistance, he said.