Myanmar’s military launched airstrikes on villages in northwestern Sagaing region as clashes with anti-junta joint forces intensified over the weekend, said a Radio Free Asia report.
At least 15 government troops were reported dead and thousands of civilians fled their homes to safety during the fighting.
Intense fighting broke out between junta forces and the Kachin Independence Army on Sunday in Pinlebu township, prompting the military to deploy heavy weapons and call in airstrikes.
Sources said that following the strikes, local militia urged residents of Wun Bair Inn village, the scene of the firefight, to dig bomb shelters and leave the conflict zone, if possible.
A resident of Katha township, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFA that the military had also ordered thousands of people to depart the area.
“In Pinlebu, people were ordered to evacuate to a certain site and the army said they would not take responsibility for those who did not do so—there must be about 3,000 people involved,” said the resident.
“There are eight or nine villages about a mile away from each other near the scene of the fighting. People were terrified because there were airstrikes recently,” he said.
Residents of the area said telephone lines and the internet were cut off in Pinlebu, Kawlin and Wuntho townships early on Sunday, ahead of the airstrikes.
The three townships joined 25 others across the country that have had the internet blocked after they were the center of anti-junta activities.
Myanmar’s military has attempted to justify its overthrow of the democratically elected National League for Democracy government by claiming the party had stolen the country’s November 2020 ballot through voter fraud.
The junta has yet to provide evidence of its claims and has violently repressed anti-coup protests, killing at least 1,136 people and arresting 6,850 others, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
