Revolutionary forces in Mon State announced on 5 May, that they successfully shot down a military junta paramotor following a series of retaliatory strikes against the regime’s aerial campaign.

According to a statement from the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the 1st Operation Area, the aircraft was downed on 26 April after resistance fighters opened fire on the paramotor as it was conducting bombing raids over Win Tar Pan and Kyauk Pyar villages in Bilin Township. The downed aircraft reportedly crashed approximately three miles from the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 3 base.

The statement said a paramotor belonging to the military, which had been bombing villages, crashed about three miles from LIB 3 after coming under fire from revolutionary forces. It added that on 4 May, the forces seized a 122 mm shell and 18,000 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition from a military airdrop.

In April, combined forces of the SOF, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), and Local Defence Forces (LDFs) attacked and captured the Let Yek camp in Shwe Kyin Township, Bago Region, and the Lay Kay camp in Bilin Township, Mon State.

During the battles to seize the camps and in subsequent pursuits of retreating troops, 18 prisoners of war, including Deputy Commander Aung Zaw Moe, were captured, while seven others were killed.

The statement added that an interception attack on a military column of about 200 troops advancing from the Pain Nae Taw strategic base left 25 soldiers dead and six more captured, bringing the total number of prisoners of war to 24.

Weapons and ammunition seized during the fighting included 42 firearms, a drone jammer, 51 rounds of 81 mm ammunition and other munitions.

The statement said the captured prisoners of war are receiving medical treatment in line with the Prisoner of War Law and are being held under systematic custody, while operations to clear the area and assist displaced civilians are ongoing.