Myanmar Regime’s Southern Chin Offensive Stalls Amid Heavy Casualties

The Myanmar military’s two-week old pincer offensive in southern Chin State has stalled amid fierce resistance along the border with Magwe Region, according to local sources.

The regime launched the counter-offensive from Magwe’s Saw and Kyaukhtu townships, targeting the resistance-held Chin towns of Kanpetlet and Mindat backed by heavy airstrikes from the Kyaukhtu airbase.

However, regime troops from Saw are reportedly facing heavy casualties on the frontline in Kanpetlet, just 12 kilometers away.

“Around 400 troops were deployed to the Kanpetlet front, but they fell back after suffering heavy losses,” a source close to the resistance told The Irrawaddy. He added that the military is expected to reinforce the column before attacking again.

On the Mindat front, the regime is constructing bunkers and trenches to fortify Kangyi, a strategic village recently recaptured from the resistance. Kangyi sits on a vital junction of the Kyaukhtu-Mindat road, 12.6 km from Mindat, with a direct supply link to Saw.

Local sources reported that roughly 300 regime troops and a military truck departed Kangyi on Thursday, believed to be pushing toward Saw town to reinforce regime positions.

The regime has poured troops into the border corridor since the start of this month.

On Tuesday, the military reinforced Artillery Battalion No. 368 in Kyaukhtu town with roughly 1,500 troops from the KaPaSA No. 24 weapons factory in Magwe’s Pauk Township. The following day, 56 wounded soldiers were evacuated from the base by Y-12 transport aircraft.