Local residents along the Ayeyarwady River in Sagaing Region’s Sadaung Township are being forced to evacuate as 12 military council warships conduct indiscriminate artillery strikes along the riverbank. According to members of the Kyun Hla resistance group, the military vessels began their operation around 7 AM on July 22, departing from near Kyaukphya village. The warships have been firing heavy weapons randomly at villages as they move northward along the Ayeyarwady River, showing no regard for civilian targets or infrastructure.
Villagers living along the river route have had to abandon their homes and seek shelter in safer locations as the warships continue their relentless artillery barrage. There is growing concern among local residents about potential damage to lives and property due to the continuous heavy weapons fire. Reports indicate that the naval group has now reached the Inntaw area. Additionally, another flotilla of 6 military vessels has departed from Mandalay and is also heading northward up the Ayeyarwady River, according to local intelligence sources.
Local surveillance sources based in Mandalay warn that riverside villages must remain extremely vigilant due to the simultaneous movement of two separate military naval groups. They caution that communities cannot let their guard down even after the first group passes through, as a second group is following behind. The military council is providing air support to these naval operations using both fighter jets and helicopters, which are conducting aerial bombardment in coordination with the warships’ movements. The military vessels are being escorted by air assets to provide security coverage as they advance northward along the Ayeyarwady River.
