Defence forces raided Taltheetaw Pyu Saw Htee junta militia village in Sagaing Region’s Shwe Bo Township and killed 18 junta soldiers and injured more than 20 others.

At 4:45 a.m. on 6 June, the defence forces launched their attack on the village where about 50 junta soldiers were stationed. The village has been taken over by members of the Pyu Saw Htee junta-aligned militia.

The defence forces fought against the junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members for more than two hours.

“We were able to destroy bunkers and Pyu Saw Htee houses”, said a press officer from Wild Tiger Shwe Bo local People’s Defence Force (PDF), one of the defence forces involved in the attack.

The defence forces killed 14 junta soldiers and injured at least 20 in the fighting. A further four junta soldiers, who were part of reinforcements coming to Taltheetaw Village were killed in a landmine attack on their way to the village, according to Wild Tiger Shwe Bo PDF.

"In the village, there is a hospital, a three-story brick building. The six soldiers on the hospital's rooftop kept firing at us. Because we only have 40 mm mortars and grenades they cannot penetrate the brick walls. If we had RPGs, the soldiers on the rooftop would undoubtedly have been killed”, said the Wild Tiger Shwe Bo PDF representative.

After about two hours the defence forces had to retreat because they came under too much fire, they managed to retreat safely without suffering any casualties.

"There were no fatalities on our side, but 14 junta soldiers perished, and more than 20 others were injured. The landmine attack also claimed the lives of 4 soldiers. In total, 18 people died," said a member of Wild Tiger Shwe Bo PDF.

According to locals after the defence forces attacked Taltheetaw Village junta forces launched attacks on villages in the area that have a large defence force presence.

The defence forces that attacked Taltheetaw Village were Wild Tiger Shwe Bo local PDF, Golden Eagle LPDF, Dog Killer Shwebo LPDF, and Bo Ba Taw LPDF.