Fifteen junta soldiers died when they were ambushed by People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) on the Tamu to Aung Zay Ya Road in Sagaing Region’s Tamu Township, on 23 April, according to a PDF statement.

According to No. 2 Battalion Tamu PDF (T-PDF), the ambush was planned and executed after they received information from a junta informant in Battalion 101 that a military convoy of soldiers en route to relieve another battalion would be travelling along the road.

“Those military battalions were transported from Pakokku by military helicopters to Kale Township. From there they continued to Tamu in seven military trucks yesterday [23 April]. They were
transporting about 150 soldiers to relieve the military posts in that area,” Khaing Lay, a spokesperson from No. (2) Tamu Battalion (T-PDF), told Mizzima.

Reports say that there were two episodes of fighting. In the first attack, from 2.19 p.m. to 2.40 p.m. the junta soldiers shot back with heavy machine gun fire and 60mm mortar rounds. In the second attack between 3:22 p.m. to 3:54 p.m. the junta troops shot back before retreating.

T-PDF member Khaing Lay said: “There were some casualties on the military side, then they rapidly retreated towards Tamu Township. The attacks were carried out as a collaboration between PDF battalions (1) and (2) from Tamu. There were no causalities on the PDF side, they managed to retreat successfully.”

T-PDF will be carrying out vehicle inspections and clearance operations on the Tamu to Aung Zay Ya Road and they will continue fighting until the military dictatorship falls, according to a statement from the group.

The statement also said the T-PDF Battalions 1 and 2 attacked the military outpost located at BEHS No. 12 Myoma School in Tamu Township’s Nang Phar Lone ward on 18 April. Apparently, four junta soldiers, one of whom was a sergeant, were killed in the attack.