Myanmar resistance forces attack junta positions in Sagaing’s Shwebo Township

Resistance forces briefly captured three junta army positions along the western bank of the Ayeyarwady River in Sagaing Region’s Shwebo Township on Saturday, groups involved in the fighting reported. After launching a series of simultaneous attacks at around 6:30am, the anti-regime forces clashed with soldiers and members of the junta-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia for more than three hours, an officer of the Shwebo Township People’s Defence Organisation (PDO) told Myanmar Now. The attacks targeted a hill camp west of the village of Hinthargyi, as well as the village itself, which is regarded as a Pyu Saw Htee stronghold. Drones were also used to bomb a junta base in the nearby village of Boenettaung. The fighting left at least 10 junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members dead or wounded, resistance sources claimed. Two Shwebo PDO troops were also killed, according to the PDO officer. The anti-regime groups said they captured five bunkers within 30 minutes of launching their assault, but had to retreat after their weapons malfunctioned and junta reinforcements began to arrive. “After capturing the bunkers, we continued to attack the army’s hill camp, but some of our rifles jammed. That’s when the junta army reinforcements showed up, arriving by boat,” the PDO officer said. He added that the reinforcements came by river from Kyauk Myaung, a key town about 17 miles east of the town of Shwebo and some 46 miles north of Mandalay. The resistance forces said they seized weapons and ammunition from the captured bunkers, and also burned down some of the bunkers and houses owned by known Pyu Saw Htee members. A map of the conflict area During the attack on Hinthargyi, the anti-junta fighters helped a group of 18 women, children, and elderly people flee to safety, according to the PDO officer. “They were from the families of the Pyu Saw Htee militia members. One was a two-year-old child. They were people who couldn’t pose a threat,” he said. The junta positions that were attacked served as the southernmost defensive bases for junta forces in Kyauk Myaung, which is situated on the opposite side of the Ayeyarwady River from Singu Township in neighbouring Mandalay Region. Although much of Singu Township is under resistance control, the regime is still dominant in Shwebo Township, making it difficult for anti-junta groups to use this section of the Ayeyarwady. “From the north through Khin-U Township and from the east through Wetlet Township, we can cross the river. But in the middle, Shwebo, the entire riverbank is controlled by the enemy. Since these places also protect Kyauk Myaung, I don’t think they’ll easily give them up," said a Wetlet-based resistance force leader. From Kyauk Myaung, the regime is able to send reinforcements into other areas of Sagaing, as well as provide artillery support to troops in resistance-controlled areas across the Ayeyarwady River in Mandalay Region's Thabeikkyin, Singu and Madaya townships. Shwebo Township, located between the Ayeyarwady and Mu rivers, is adjacent to Depayin, Ayadaw, Wetlet, Ye-U, and Khin-U townships in Sagaing. Both the resistance and pro-regime militia groups have a strong presence in these areas. In villages in Shwebo Township where resistance forces are strong, the junta regularly conducts raids and massacres, with thousands of homes destroyed by junta troops’ arson attacks.

Myanmar resistance forces attack junta positions in Sagaing’s Shwebo Township

The anti-regime groups briefly held the positions before being forced to retreat following the arrival of reinforcements

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