Mizzima
The Mandalay People's Defense Force recently announced that more than 70 regime troops, including a captain were killed during Operation Kanaung which is jointly being carried out by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Mandalay People’s Defense Force.
Starting from 15 July and lasting for three consecutive months until 10 September, there have been a total of nine clashes and eight drone strikes between the two sides in various locations, including Madaya Township in Mandalay, Nawngkhio Township in Shan State, and the Pyin Oo Lwin-Mogok road section in Mandalay region, according to their report on 11 September.
In the ongoing conflict as part of the anti-regime Operation Kanaung in Mandalay Region and northern Shan State, over 70 soldiers, including a captain, an officer, a column commander and second-in-command were killed. The operation also resulted in the successful seizure of numerous weapons and ammunition, they claim.
Furthermore, two resistance soldiers belonging to the coalition forces of TNLA and PDF were also reported to have been killed. Mizzima has not been able to independently verify the exact number of casualties on either side.
According to the Mandalay People's Defense Force, the first mission of Operation Kanaung involved the joint resistance forces launching rocket bomb attacks on the military's Air Guard Battalion headquarters and conducting a raid on the sentry unit of a military base in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region, in July.
In addition, the resistance forces strategically utilized land mines to ambush a military convoy that was transporting reinforcements to the military base in Shan State. Following this incident, intense battles broke out between the joint forces of TNLA and the Military Council soldiers in Nawngkhio Township in August.
The conflict persisted in September, with the Military Council forces launching artillery attacks, while the PDF coalition responded with bombing attacks using firearms and drone bombs. The junta troops received additional support from nearby military units, who provided artillery strikes, as stated in the Mandalay People's Defense Force’s report.
On 8 September, the resistance forces successfully carried out a raid and took control of a military outpost housing 50 junta troops. This outpost was situated on a hill in Taungni village, near the Pyin Oo Lwin-Mogok Road in the Mandalay Region. Due to the desertion of the Military Council's forces, the joint forces were able to successfully seize the military outpost.
As per the statement from the Mandalay PDF, Operation Kanaung, being conducted in collaboration with TNLA, is currently in progress. Tensions continue to remain high as they anticipate facing an additional 400 combat forces from four battalions associated with the regime. These battalions include Light Infantry Division (99), Infantry Battalion (252), Infantry Battalion (257), and Light Infantry Battalion (502).
