The Matupi Chinland Defence Force (CDF) killed at least 12 regime soldiers and wounded many of them in an ambush on the Matupi-Paletwa road in southern Chin State, Ko Aaron, the group’s spokesperson, told Khonumthung News.

He said they attacked a column of 80 soldiers from Infantry Battalion 304 in three military trucks in Matupi Township that were on their way to Htel Bwi camp from Paletwa town on 20-21 March with troops and supplies.

“We clashed with them four times...There were no casualties on our side. There may be more fighting until the column reaches Htel Bwi military camp,” he said.

On 20 March, the CDF killed three soldiers in attacks at Six Mile at 10 am and between Seven and Eight Mile at 1pm. The next day, they killed nine soldiers and wounded many others between Nine Mile and Twishit village.

A regime camp strategically located on the Matupi-Hakha road indiscriminately fired artillery shells, and some of which hit Walipi village, but no one was injured.