By Bala / MPA
The military junta has launched dual-stage long-range artillery attacks on Moe Bye Township in Southern Shan State, resulting in civilian casualties and significant damage to residential homes.
The military targeted areas such as Len Hpon, the western side of Bar Do, and Kit Pu villages from Thursday morning through Friday, damaging at least five homes in Kit Pu village and injuring three civilians, according to a local military source.
“The situation is calm on Saturday, but they started firing around 10 a.m. on Thursday and continued through Friday night,” the source told MPA.
The artillery fire reportedly originated from Infantry Battalion 54, based in Loikaw.
Although clashes between military troops and local resistance forces had temporarily subsided in Moe Bye Township as of Saturday morning, the military continues deploying drones for surveillance.
An official from the Moe Bye People’s Defense Force (PDF) stated that intense fighting was triggered on January 9 when military forces from a base near Tha Yet Chan Hill, close to Infantry Battalion 422, advanced into Moe Bye Township.
“The clashes have been ongoing for over two weeks,” the official explained. “Junta soldiers from Battalion 422 launched an offensive into Moe Bye town, leading to confrontations with local PDFs. So far, we haven’t seen Pa-O National Organization (PNO) forces, only newly trained people’s militia groups. The military has stationed troops near Tha Yet Chan and Htone Hpo, and skirmishes frequently occur near the outskirts of Moe Bye.”
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the eastern part of Moe Bye Township reported receiving warnings from local resistance forces to relocate to safer areas as tensions continue.
