On July 7th, resistance forces launched an attack on military council soldiers who were extorting money from civilians in Monywa, Sagaing Region. According to a spokesperson from The Phoenix Army, four soldiers were severely injured during the attack, which involved the use of hand grenades and small arms. The incident occurred around 1:27 PM near the Yay Oo Rice Shop in the South Ward of Monywa, where the military council had set up a checkpoint to collect money from traveling civilians.
The military presence at the checkpoint consisted of approximately 30 soldiers. Local residents refer to this location as the ‘Yay Oo Dog Checkpoint.’ The resistance forces initiated the attack with hand grenades, followed by small arms fire. Witnesses reported that four soldiers immediately fell when the hand grenades detonated. Following the attack, military council soldiers were seen conducting searches of civilians using civilian vehicles. The operation was carried out jointly by The Phoenix Army and the Bandula Group, with all resistance fighters successfully withdrawing from the area without casualties.
This incident highlights the ongoing practice of extortion and illegal checkpoints operated by the military council in and around Monywa. Local residents have reported frequent harassment and illegal monetary collections by military council forces, causing significant distress to the civilian population. The checkpoint system has become a common method for the military council to extract money from civilians traveling through the area, leading to increased tension between the local population and military forces. The successful attack by resistance forces demonstrates the growing opposition to such practices and the continued resistance against military council control in the region.
