The military destroyed nearly 100 houses in Thangtlang during the ninth raid on the town in northern Chin State, already empty of residents who fled to other villages or to the Indian border during the first attack in late September.

According to a civilian committee working to help the town’s displaced residents, the Burma Army (BA) destroyed 96 houses and St Nicolas Church on Saturday 27 November.

Shells hit Zung Mung, Seik Pyo Yay and Lungtial wards with fires continuing until the next day.

The army destroyed more than 350 of Thangtlang’s 2,000 houses during attacks on the town that began on 19 September after fighting with the Chinland Defence Force (CDF).

Four churches were burnt to the ground and more than 10,000 people were displaced from their homes.

After BA destroyed 164 houses in late October, the CDF launched retaliatory attacks on BA in Mindat in the southern state, killing 3 soldiers and injuring 8.

According to the Chin Human Rights Organization, the regime’s forces were committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.