The regime used fighter jets in a retaliatory attack against a coalition of Chin resistance groups that had attacked its camp in Falam for five days, causing many regime casualties in the township, which is located in northern Chin State.
The Chin National Organisation (CNO), whose armed wing, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), is fighting against the Burma Army (BA) along with other Chin armed groups, reported that the BA attacked them at 10.30 am on 21 November after several gunships sent weapons and food to its Tibual camp.
At 11 am, CNDF snipers reportedly killed two junta soldiers and seized 200 rounds of ammunition.
The CNDF, Siyin Civil Defense Military, Lautu Chin Defence Force, Chin Joint Defence Committee and Mountain Eagle Defence Force (MEDF) have been trying to capture the camp since 15 November.
A CNO officer who wished to remain anonymous told Khonumthung News that more than 30 BA soldiers were killed and many wounded after resistance groups attacked the junta’s camp on the border with India with drones and heavy and light weapons fire until 20 November.
“After we attacked their camp on 15 November, (four) jet fighters dropped bombs three times around 9 am and twice in the evening,” he said.
Jet fighters reportedly attacked the groups four times over the course of five days and they dispatched airships on 19 November.
On the first day of fighting, the regime bombed two houses near their camp, and eight BA soldiers were killed and two CNDF soldiers suffered minor injuries.
On the second day, the fighting intensified in the afternoon until the evening. At least 5 BA were killed and many wounded, after the junta sent its MI-35 at 3 pm and attacked the Chin soldiers for about 20 minutes.
On the third day, the fighting lasted from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The regime’s airship attacked the resistance groups again for 45 minutes starting at 3:45 pm.
According to the CNO, the MEDF used drones to bomb the BA camp in the evening. Six regime soldiers were killed and many wounded that day, but only one CNDF fighter suffered a minor injury, according to the group.
On the fourth day, four BA soldiers were killed and another CNDF fighter wounded.
On the fifth day of fighting, the regime used two jet fighters and five attack helicopters against the groups between 10 am and 1 pm.
On 20 November, the Chin resistance claimed to have killed at least five regime soldiers after ambushing them in Bualte village at around 5 pm.
The soldiers had been sent to reinforce their Tibual camp. An hour and a half later, the remaining BA soldiers burned people’s homes in the village in what appeared to be in retaliation for their fallen soldiers.
The CNO officer said all of the dead and wounded BA soldiers were taken to the military hospital in Kalay town in Sagaing Region.
Resistance forces reportedly dropped 300 bombs on the camp over the course of five days.