An official from the Pale Township People's Defense Force said that a military helicopter rescued the soldiers trapped during clashes in Pale township, Sagaing region on December 23.

Fighting broke out between the junta’s troops and local defense forces near Magyi Gwa, Kanpauk and Nyaung Kone villages in Pearl Township on December 23, and a military helicopter.

“As the junta’s troops were trapped, a military helicopter was used from Monywa township and fired with what appeared to be bombs. The Military helicopter went around the villages four times and fired. It took about 20 minutes. They shot the villages and places where resistance fighters may live,” said an official from the Pale Township People's Defense Force.

The 32 troops of junta stationed in Kant Daung village, Pale township, marched on December 22 to clear the area and arrived in Kanpauk and Magyi Gwa villages on the morning of December 23.

The battle was fought jointly by the Township Plain Defence Force, the PRA Battalion (5) and the Local People's Defence Force.