Intense fighting has been raging for three consecutive days between military junta forces and the combined forces of Chinland Defense Force-Mindat and Chin Brotherhood Alliance in Mindat, Chin State, according to local residents and the Mindat Township People’s Administration.
Since 9 November, combined Chin resistance forces have been conducting offensive operations against junta positions in Mindat town. The fierce fighting continued until 11 November, with the junta mounting strong resistance through heavy artillery support and airstrikes, said the Mindat Township People’s Administration.
“Fighting has been ongoing in Mindat. It has been three days now. The military council is bombing every day and burning houses,” said Ko Yaw Mang of the Mindat PAT.
Ko Yaw Mang added that the military junta’s arson attacks on Mindat town left an estimated 30 homes destroyed.
The fighting is centered around junta-controlled areas, including Infantry Battalion 274 and the police station. Local residents report that the military has deployed Y-12 bomber aircraft, dropping over 30 bombs in clusters of four across Mindat town.
“Just earlier, airplanes were circling and firing at the town – around and throughout the town area. There have been multiple airstrikes today,” said a Mindat town elder.
The Chin Brotherhood Alliance are expected to release a comprehensive statement regarding the Mindat operation.
According to Mindat resident Ko Har Ka Lay, artillery fire from IB 274 on the morning of 11 November caused fires in several homes in Ah Shey Pyin Ward of Mindat. He also reported that the junta forces are using gasoline to burn houses along the ring road south of Mindat police station.
On 10 November, the military airdropped approximately 10 packages of ammunition and supplies with Y-12 plane and conducted bombing raids, dropping over 50 bombs in clusters of four on multiple locations within the town, he added.
During the three-day offensive, the junta has provided artillery support about four times using long-range artillery from its defense equipment factory in Laung Shey, about five times with 120mm artillery from Kyauk Htu-based Artillery Unit, and is also conducting drone bombing operations, according to the Mindat PAT.
Currently, while Chinland Government’s defense forces are attacking junta positions in Thantlang town, the Chin National Defense Forces (CNDF) and Chin Brotherhood Alliance are also conducting offensive operations against junta camps in Falam.
The Chin Brotherhood Alliance have set a military objective to clear junta’s presence from their controlled townships within 2024 and are working to implement this goal.