According to an official statement from the Karen National Union (KNU) Kler Lwee Htu District, four civilians, including a 4-year-old child, were injured and one civilian was arrested following artillery attacks by the military council forces on villages in Nyaunglebin District, Bago Region. The military council’s artillery attacks occurred continuously between July 14 and July 18.
On July 14, military council troops from Moe Township’s Nat Than Kwin fired 120mm artillery shells, launching two rounds at Hle Lay West Bank village and two rounds between Hle Lay village and Taung Su village, totaling four rounds. During this attack, U Kyaw Naing, age 40, Maung Hein Zaw, age 17, and Ma Hnin Yadi Moe, age 4, all residents of Hle Lay West Bank village, sustained injuries from the artillery fire. On July 18, military council troops from Nat Than Kwin continued their attacks, firing six more artillery rounds: two between Anya Su village and Hle Lay Karen village, two at the eastern side of Hle Lay Karen village, and two at the western side.
On the same day, Infantry Battalion 307 fired one artillery round at Thantkankun village, resulting in injuries to 36-year-old Ma Saw Nan Wai. On July 16, Infantry Battalion 598 of the military council forces based in Zalut Gyi, Kyauktaga Township, deliberately fired four 81mm artillery rounds at Win Kan village. On July 18, troops from Infantry Battalion 20 launched another attack on Gway Kone village in Kyauktaga Township, firing five 120mm artillery rounds.
On July 16, U Myo Min Thein, a 52-year-old resident of Thet Phayagon Tan village in Letpadan Township, was arrested by military council troops at Ngapyawtaw checkpoint while traveling to Nyaunglebin town for shopping. On July 18, Infantry Battalion 20 fired three 120mm artillery rounds – two at Yin Twin Kone village’s farmland and one at Kanyin Kyoe village. Infantry Battalion 264 also fired one 120mm artillery round at Lay Eain Su village, according to the KNU-Kler Lwee Htu District’s statement.
