A spokesperson from CDSOM Venus Battalion has confirmed that an attack on military forces stationed in Taloke town, Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, resulted in the death of 8 soldiers, after which the military burned civilian homes. The battle began at 6 AM on August 9th, with resistance forces launching a coordinated attack using three separate columns. The engagement lasted for 8 hours, during which the military responded with heavy artillery, including more than 30 rounds from howitzers, 12 bombs dropped from 3 military aircraft, and attacks from Mi-35 helicopters.
According to the CDSOM official, resistance forces had to withdraw due to the military’s intense aerial and artillery counterattack. The military’s response included heavy weapons and incendiary bombs that caused significant damage to civilian homes in the area. The operation was jointly conducted by CDSOM Venus Battalion and PDF (Taloke) forces. While the resistance forces managed to inflict substantial casualties on the military side, they were unable to completely capture the town due to the military’s heavy aerial and artillery response. The intense fighting resulted in considerable damage to civilian infrastructure, with multiple houses destroyed by fire from the military’s artillery strikes and aerial bombardment.
The military’s aggressive response to the resistance attack demonstrated their continued use of disproportionate force, including the deployment of heavy weapons in civilian areas. The destruction of civilian homes follows a pattern of military retaliation against local populations in areas where resistance forces operate. The joint operation by CDSOM and PDF forces represents ongoing coordination between various resistance groups in their campaign against military targets, though the superior firepower of military forces, particularly their air assets, continues to pose significant challenges to resistance operations.
