A spokesperson from the Oaktwin People’s Defense Force has confirmed that more than thirty military council troops were killed during five consecutive days of fighting in Thone Pin and Oaktwin Townships of Bago Region. The military council forces had split into three columns, totaling approximately 280 troops, advancing from different directions: one column from Kywe Pwe town to Koe Taing village in Oaktwin Township, another from Thone Pin Bridge to Koe Taing village in Thone Pin Township, and a third from Zayat Gyi town to Yay Kyi Kon village in Thone Pin Township.
The battles began on June 12 and continued until June 17. On the first day, seven military council troops were confirmed killed near Koe Taing village at the Myo Soe Bridge descent. Fighting occurred at the Chinese cemetery east of Kywe Pwe, and the military columns advancing from Zayat Gyi to Yay Kyi Kon and from Thone Pin Bridge to Koe Taing suffered heavy casualties as they had to cross open paddy fields. The military council forces faced daily encounters with landmines and drone attacks throughout the operation.
The resistance forces involved in the operation included Strategy 23 PDF joint forces, comprising Oaktwin Township PDF, Battalion 3502, Taungoo Township PDF, Yaw Na Tha Drone Force, and Delta One Drone Force. During the fighting, five resistance fighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Close-quarter combat occurred at distances of about 50 meters due to the residential areas between Myo Soe and Koe Taing. The military council troops faced continuous attacks from mines and drones as they attempted to advance through the area, resulting in significant casualties and highlighting the effectiveness of the resistance forces’ coordinated defensive operations.
