20 junta soldiers were killed and 10 were injured when defence forces attacked their two vehicles with mines on the Myeik to Palaw Road in Tanintharyi Region at around 2:30 p.m. on 3 October.

The attack on the military vehicles, that were tavelling from Myeik to Palaw Township, happened near Kade Village in Palaw Township.

The junta soldiers also abducted and killed three innocent civilians during the fighting, according to a representative of Myeik District People’s Defence Force (PDF), one of the groups involved in the attack.

He said: “When the army's reinforcements arrived during our interception attack, shooting broke out. Three civilians were arrested and killed without reason, A soldier was wounded on our side as well.”

As a result of the civilian deaths, local PDFs have warned civilians to immediately leave an area if fighting breaks out.