A spokesperson from Battalion 2 of Meiktila District has confirmed that resistance forces engaged with the military council troops near the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in Malun Township, Mandalay Region, resulting in 10 military casualties and the seizure of weapons. The clash occurred on July 18 at approximately 3:45 PM when military council forces, who had temporarily stationed themselves in Aung Tha (North) and Aung Tha (South) villages near the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, were moving out to conduct operations. Revolutionary forces, having received advance intelligence, had positioned themselves in Myinsin (also known as Myinthei) village and launched an attack against the military column consisting of approximately 100 troops.
The engagement resulted in 10 military council troops being killed and more than 20 others wounded. Following the battle, resistance forces successfully captured two G-3 rifles, one MA-2 rifle, three G-3 ammunition magazines, over 100 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, and more than 100 G-3 rounds from the military forces. The battle lasted approximately three hours, during which the military council forces responded with one Mi-35 helicopter gunship strike and multiple heavy weapons attacks. The military’s aggressive response demonstrated their substantial losses during the engagement, as they deployed both air and artillery assets in their counterattack.
The operation was a coordinated effort involving revolutionary forces from Battalion 2 of Meiktila District, Battalion 8 of Myingyan District, and Battalion 3 of Meiktila District. The battle took place in a strategically significant area near the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, which, despite being under military council control, was successfully targeted by resistance forces due to effective intelligence gathering and tactical execution. The continued operations by resistance forces in this area represent their ongoing commitment to defending local civilians from the military council’s oppressive actions, as the junta continues to perpetrate violence against the civilian population in the region.
