Fighting between the military council’s forces and a joint force consisting of PDF (Kale), People's Defense Force (Ka Pa Pha) and the CNDF broke out in Kale township, Sagaing region on December 23. Military council’s force used helicopters to fire heavy artillery in battle, according to Nat Chaung villagers.

Villagers said the military council’s troops used helicopters two times. In addition, local residents said five military vehicles with 120 mm artillery left Kale downtown for the southern part of the town. The two helicopters turned back to Monywa township and they heard the sound of helicopters flying again later.

Villagers said artillery shells also landed in the Aung Su Pan monastery, south of Nat Chaung state high school. "It is said that the shrine was hit. It was when they were fighting on the ground this morning," said a villager. At present, most villagers are trapped in the Nat Chaung village.