Since 6 June there has been intense fighting between defence forces and Myanmar junta soldiers in Natthankwin Town in Bago Region’s Kyaukkyi Township.

According to a report issued by Roma People’s Defence Force (PDF), one of the defence force groups involved in the fighting, by 3:30 p.m. on 6 June, more than 10 junta soldiers had been killed and a further seven had been injured.

The fighting started at 4:15 a.m. on 6 June, when joint forces from local people’s defence forces (PDFs) and the Karen National Liberation Army's Brigade (3) attacked the police station in Natthankwin Town, an area controlled by Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3.

The fighting at the police station continued until 7:00 a.m. During the fighting, the junta fired artillery shells into the area and bombed it from fighter jets, causing damage to five houses.

“Five fighter jets flew over the police station and three of them bombed the Natthankwin Police Station area. Five local houses were completely destroyed”, a representative of KNLA Brigade 3 said to Mizzima.

There may have been further damage, but it has yet to be confirmed.

Following the attack on the police station, at 8:30 a.m. on 6 June combined defence forces from local PDFs and KNLA Brigade 3 destroyed the Sittaung Bridge that connects Natthankwin and Kyaukkyi Town and the Natywa Bridge that connects Natthankwin and Penwekone Village in Htantabin Township.

A KNLA Brigade 3 member said: "We destroyed the two bridges because these bridges are the main supply routes of the military council and they use these bridges to move columns and transfer supplies like food and ammunition."