Fighting broke out between junta forces and local defence forces near Maung Kyauk Taw Village, in Sagaing’s Khin U Township, on the morning of 23 July.

A source with close ties to the local defence forces said: "There was intermittent fighting near Maung Kyauk Taw Village. Four members of a local defence force were hit, two of them died and two of them were injured. One was injured during the fighting, captured [by the junta troops] and burned alive."

It is not known how many junta casualties there were.

For the last three days, a group of about 100 junta soldiers has been patrolling Khin U Township and torching villages in the area, according to local reports.

On 18 July the junta launched airstrikes on eight villages in Khin U Township causing residents to flee.