Two civilians were killed and one woman was injured when military forces opened fire during clashes that erupted on the Shwebo-Myitkyina road in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region. According to local sources, the conflict broke out on August 23 between resistance forces and military troops numbering over 100 personnel who were conducting operations in the area. During the fighting, military forces fired indiscriminately at civilians traveling along the road, resulting in the immediate death of two drivers and leaving one woman with a gunshot wound to her thigh.
In response to these civilian casualties, resistance forces announced an indefinite closure of the Shwebo-Myitkyina road starting August 24. The military column was reported to have left Yamana village in Kanbalu Township around 8:40 AM on August 24 and proceeded to burn down Kyikyaing village. Local residents reported that the civilian casualties occurred when the military opened fire on people traveling along the road during a temporary reopening following the initial clashes. The military continues to conduct operations in the area, prompting resistance forces to maintain the road closure for civilian safety.
The ongoing military operations in the region have been characterized by targeted attacks on civilians and the destruction of villages through arson. These acts of violence have severely disrupted daily life for local residents and created significant security risks for the civilian population. The military’s campaign of violence has forced many locals to flee their homes and has caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. The resistance forces’ decision to close the road indefinitely reflects the serious security situation in the area and their efforts to protect civilian lives from further military attacks and indiscriminate firing on civilian targets.
