Four Myanmar junta soldiers and many others were injured when defence forces carried out a drone attack near Shweyaungpya Village in Mon State’s Bilin Township on 29 April.

At around 12:00 p.m. joint defence forces used two drones to drop eight bombs on a junta security checkpoint on the Bilin to Thaton road section of the Yangon to Mawlamyaing road near to Shweyaungpya Village.

The checkpoint was manned by about 20 junta soldiers and the eight bombs exploded inside the building where they were stationed injuring some of the soldiers.

As the junta soldiers tried to move the wounded out of the checkpoint to take them to hospital the defence forces launched a ground attack. At the same time the junta retaliated with small arms and 40mm mortar fire, whilst the 314 Field Artillery Regiment based in Zeewun fired artillery into the area.

Four junta soldiers died and many others were injured. Junta mortar shells also hit Bawarkone Village, according to the Hawk Revolutionary Squad (HRS), one of the defence forces involved in the attack.

“Two 40mm mortar shells fired by the junta landed on the village of Bawarkone”, said an HRS officer.

Following the fighting the junta reinforced its soldiers at the checkpoint and security was tightened, but the road was not closed.

Later, on the evening of 29 April, junta Infantry Battalion 9 based in Winpa Village also opened fire with heavy weapons.

“The road isn’t closed and they are still carrying out inspections at the checkpoint. Few people are going outside and junta soldiers from Infantry Battalion 9 are now firing heavy weapons and they have increased troop numbers in the conflict area”, said the HRS officer.

The defence forces involved in the attack were the HRS, Thaton Township People’s Defense Force (PDF), Karen Natonal Union (KNU) Brigade 1 and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Company 3.