According to statements and reports from People’s Defense Forces (PDF), 24 members of the military council forces were killed during various engagements across Myanmar on May 15. The People’s Defense Forces throughout different regions are not only defending against offensive operations by military council troops but are also conducting offensive operations against military council outposts. The PDFs are engaging in combat to protect civilians from the military council forces who continue to commit acts of violence, arbitrary arrests, and torture against local populations.
Military council forces continue to cause civilian casualties through artillery shelling of villages and aerial bombardments. Reports indicate that military council troops are also looting and destroying civilian property, including burning down homes and buildings. According to PDF statements, they are actively resisting the military council’s offensive operations, resulting in casualties among military council personnel. The resistance forces emphasize their role in defending local communities from military council aggression and human rights violations.
However, independent journalists and human rights monitors have been unable to verify the actual number of military council casualties on the ground. Due to the military council’s restrictions on media access and prohibition of journalists from entering conflict zones, it has not been possible to independently confirm the exact number of casualties. The military council maintains strict control over information flow from conflict areas, making it difficult to verify casualty figures reported by various sources.
