According to statements from People’s Defense Forces (PDF), 13 members of the military council forces were killed in clashes across Myanmar on May 17. People’s Defense Forces from various regions have been engaging in daily confrontations with military council troops, with reports of casualties on the military council’s side being regularly documented through statements from different resistance units. The local People’s Defense Forces maintain daily records and issue statements regarding military council troop casualties during these engagements.
However, it should be noted that independent journalists and free media outlets have not been able to verify these military casualty figures on the ground. Currently, most of Myanmar’s territory remains under military council control, and media organizations do not have free access to gather news, making it difficult to confirm casualties from the fighting. As a result, information about military council troop casualties relies primarily on statements issued by People’s Defense Forces. The situation continues to highlight the challenges in independently verifying combat-related casualties due to restricted access and the military council’s control over much of the country’s territory.
