The KIA and PDF terrorists launched the attack in Kawlin Township of Sagaing Region on 3 November 2023 with the use of excessive power. They opened fire on the security unit and police station. Also, they killed the locals, asked for money, launched arson attacks on departmental buildings, planted mines to undermine the government administrative mechanism and also destroyed and broke into the houses.
When the local Tatmadaw base and a column conducted a counterattack, they had to send reinforcement to Htigyaing at the same time not to fall into the terrorists, and Tatmadaw and the Police Force blocked Kawlin Township with appropriate power.
At the same time, the youths and middle-aged men from Kawlin Township cooperated with the Security Forces and asked for help to conduct security measures in the township and villages. Therefore, the security units were organized, and Tatmadaw provided necessary things from the fourth week of December 2023 to the third week of January 2024.
Tatmadaw columns then marched to Kanbalu on 27 January to conduct a Counter-Terrorism Operation against KIA and PDF terrorists in Kawlin and its vicinity areas. Then, Tatmadaw columns marched to Kawlin step by step and systematically conducted operations by using heavy weapons and air support, and there were 18 armed engagements with the terrorists. Afterwards, Tatmadaw fully controlled Kawlin on 10 February.
Terrorists conducted destructive actions in Kawlin Township. During the attacks, the terrorists used religious buildings, schools, departmental buildings and residential houses covered with tyres and sandbags as bunkers and opened fire on Tatmadaw members, planted bombs at monasteries, residential houses and roads used for public communication and used the locals as human shields. So the Security Forces had to follow the Rules of Engagement-ROE.
Some Security Forces members faced casualties in the clashes, and arms and amunition including heavy weapons, small weapons, grenades, bombs, the dead bodies of terrorists and related items were seized.
The Security Forces removed the debris after the terrorist attacks and detected the mines for the Kawlin residents to be able to return to their places, and also arranged to conduct rehabilitation plans together with the locals, it is reported.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar (11-2-2024)
- There were 18 armed engagements with the terrorists. Afterwards, Tatmadaw fully controlled Kawlin on 10 February.
- The terrorists used religious buildings, schools, departmental buildings and residential houses covered with tyres and sandbags as bunkers and opened fire on Tatmadaw members, planted bombs at monasteries, residential houses and roads used for public communication and used the locals as human shields. So the Security Forces had to follow the Rules of Engagement-ROE.
- Some Security Forces members faced casualties in the clashes, and arms and amunition including heavy weapons, small weapons, grenades, bombs, the dead bodies of terrorists and related items were seized.
- The Security Forces removed the debris after the terrorist attacks and detected the mines for the Kawlin residents to be able to return to their places, and also arranged to conduct rehabilitation plans together with the locals