The ongoing conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) joint forces, and the Military Council troops is still underway in Htigyaing (Tigyaing) Township of Sagaing Region. The Military Council has escalated their tactics by conducting air raids in the area.

After regime troops experiencing significant losses during a skirmish on April 2nd, the Military Council launched an airstrike in retaliation, a PDF fighter said.

“ Amidst the conflict between the Thaw Ka and Yadana Aung villages, two opposing columns - one advancing by land and the other by waterway - engaged us in a skirmish. At approximately 10:00 AM, military aircraft circled above us seven times before launching six attacks. One of the bombs struck the Yadana Aung village monastery, causing significant damage to the monastery”, he noted.

On April 3rd, at approximately 2:00 pm the Military Council troops burned down Me Za Li village, which is located adjacent to Yadana Aung village. The destruction resulted in over 80 houses being destroyed. Furthermore, the troops also set fire to 5 houses in Yadana Aung.

Two comrades from the joint forces of KIA-PDF sustained minor injuries during the recent clashes. A member of the joint resistance forces claimed that the Military Council may have suffered casualties, with an estimated loss of up to 10 soldiers.

For three consecutive days starting from March 30th, Military Council columns that departed Htigyaing torched Nyaung Pin Thar village, which was home to approximately 1,800 houses. As a result, the vast majority of the village was reduced to ashes, locals said.

Additionally, a Military Council's aircraft bombed the surrounding areas of the villages of Paukkone, Welgyi and Indaung on March 31st, despite the absence of fighting in t area, resulting in the tragic deaths of 4 innocent civilians and injuries to 3 others, according to Tigyaing Revolution -TR, a local resistance group.