According to an information officer from the Mobye People's Defense Force Battalion-2, on April 4 at approximately 9:00 p.m., the Military Council troops deployed an airstrike that resulted in a 500-pound bomb being dropped on South Salong Village in the Khaungei village-tract of Pekon Township, located in Southern Shan State.
"Even at 9:00 p.m. on April 4, they dropped a 500-pound bomb on South Salong village. It wasn't a war zone, so they bombed the village. You can tell that they wanted to destroy the houses. No one was hurt. But the houses were destroyed. The two-story houses and half-timbered houses near the houses were all crushed," said a Mobye PDF battalion-2 information officer.
The People's Defense Forces said that the fighting between the Military Council troops, which has been conducting a combat operation since February 24, on the border of Pekon Township and Pinlaung Township in southern Shan State remains intense. The Military Council is reported to have resorted to airstrikes during their attacks.
According to an information officer from the Mobye People's Defense Battalion-2, both sides involved in the battles are experiencing casualties, with the Military Council troops resorting to consistent artillery shell and airstrike usage.
The Defense Forces have stated that the fighting has been ongoing for several days now, and the Military Council has reinforced its forces as well.
“They always launch combat operations with massive forces. They always have weapons and manpower reinforcements. They always do combat operations in cooperation with other militias. They always have reinforcements with military vehicles from 10-11 pm and then until 4 am," said Benjamin, the Pa-O National Defense Force (PNDF-KK) press officer.
Reportedly, the Pekon PDF, Mobye PDF, Demoso PDF, Pa-O National Defense Force (PNDF-KK), KA, KNDF, SSRY, and other coalition forces are actively participating in the conflict against the Military Council troops in southern Shan State. In their statement, the Defense Forces have called on the public to contribute in any way possible.
