Thousands displaced as Myanmar junta launches assault in Magway Region’s Salin Township

The Myanmar military has displaced tens of thousands of villagers in Salin Township since March 7, as the regime attempts to seize control of a strategic route connecting Salin and Seikphyu townships in Magway Region.At least 17,000 civilians fled their homes after a column of junta troops departing from the second largest town of Sin Phyu Kyun in Salin Township advanced into Kya Pin Village on Saturday, local sources said.“They moved into our area with five vehicles and an armored tank on March 7,” a source close to the resistance said. “Our side also blocked the road, planted landmines along the route, and launched drone attacks.” After junta troops suffered casualties in mine and drone attacks last Saturday, an Mi-35 combat helicopter launched multiple strikes near Kya Pin Village, about 3.5 miles northwest of Sin Hpyu Kyun.Although no civilian casualties were reported, at least 400 families from Koke Ko Tan remain displaced as fighting continues along the Salin-Seikphyu highway on the Ayeyarwady River's western bank.“We heard the blasts of heavy artillery on the day of fighting,” a Koke Ko Tan villager, who requested anonymity, told Myanmar Now.“It’s not very far from our village, just a mile away.”Since March 8, at least 24 villages along the highway between Sin Hpyu Kyun and Ta Nyaung Village in Salin Township have been deserted, according to a local People's Administrative Team.Sources say that at 4pm on Wednesday, junta troops set fire to homes in nearby villages, exasperating fears and concern in the area.“Only a few houses are left in Nay Pu Khan Village,” a representative of the People's Administrative Team from Salin Township. “Around 80 houses were reduced to ashes.” Locals claimed that the regime has been attempting to secure a section of the highway between the towns of Sin Hpyu Kyun and Seikphyu, an area controlled by resistance forces. "They're heading to Ta Nyaung Village to repair damaged power lines and regain control of the route between Sin Hpyu Kyun and Ta Nyaung," said a resident of Salin Township.Military tensions remain high in Salin Township as a junta convoy of eight vehicles has been deployed to the north of Sin Hpyu Kyun. Sources say the junta unit has been dispatched in order to reinforce the remaining regime troops in the area. Resistance forces estimate that junta raids have displaced about 20,000 people in Yesagyo Township, roughly 100 miles north of Salin, since February 26.

Thousands displaced as Myanmar junta launches assault in Magway Region’s Salin Township

Military regime troops, backed by airstrikes, target key highway route in Magway Region, leaving villages deserted and homes in ashes

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