The Natogyi People’s Defense Force (PDF) and its allied resistance groups reported on Tuesday that they had killed nearly 50 junta troops and captured 14 others in an intense battle in Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region.
The resistance forces launched their assault early Sunday on an estimated 200 regime soldiers led by military strategist Zeyar Aung, according to The Irrawaddy. The confrontation began when junta forces attempted to advance towards local villages after being pushed back to the Wetlu village police station in the township's north, following a junta airstrike.
In the ensuing battle, the PDF claimed to have killed 27 regime soldiers and captured 14, including Major Win Hlaing Oo and Captain Aung Ko Ko. Additionally, the resistance group reported that at least 15 junta soldiers were wounded, while two defectors from the military confirmed that another 20 had been killed inside the Wetlu police station by Tuesday (March 11).
The resistance suffered casualties as well, with three of their fighters killed and seven others injured. A resident of Natogyi told The Irrawaddy, “Some of those killed were from my neighboring village. Others were seriously injured.”
Junta’s Continued Efforts to Perpetuate Unrest
The latest battle underscores the deepening crisis in Myanmar, where the junta continues to wage brutal military campaigns to maintain control. The military's reliance on airstrikes, heavy artillery, and indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations has fueled widespread displacement and further resistance across the country.
Since the coup in February 2021, the junta has faced escalating armed opposition from PDFs and ethnic resistance organizations (EROs), who refuse to recognize its rule. Despite facing significant losses, the military continues to deploy reinforcements, conduct mass arrests, and target civilians in a bid to crush the uprising.
The ongoing clashes in Natogyi are part of a broader trend of nationwide resistance, with the PDF and its allies steadily gaining ground in multiple regions. While resistance groups claim growing success, the junta’s continued airstrikes and crackdowns indicate that Myanmar’s civil war is far from over.
As international condemnation of the junta grows, resistance groups are calling for increased support from the global community, urging for stronger sanctions and military assistance to overthrow the military dictatorship and restore democracy in Myanmar.
The situation in Natogyi remains fluid, with both sides sustaining heavy losses. With the conflict showing no signs of abating, the people of Myanmar remain caught in the crossfire of an increasingly violent struggle for power.
BOB Post
