A military vehicle belonging to Military Council Division 33 was attacked with a series of landmines by local defence forces, near the Monywa to Mandalay highway in Sagaing Township, on 17 January, according to reports from Zero Guerrilla Force.

The attack took place at 2:00 p.m between the villages of Natkhayaing and Lelgyi and resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to ten other, according to Ko Thet Gyi, a member of the Zero Guerrilla Force.

He said: "The military vehicle, which was carrying approximately 30 soldiers from Military Council Division 33, was hit with a series of five landmines. As a result of the attack, the vehicle was severely damaged and came to a stop. Five members of the Military Council were killed. The Military Council soldiers fired back, but our soldiers were unharmed. After an hour another Military Council vehicle arrived to take away the dead bodies and injured soldiers.”

The attack was carried out by a combined force from Zero Guerrilla Force and Thayel Ni Force.