Several junta casualties reported in Mon State landmine attack

By DMG 23 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
23 June 2022, Bilin, Mon State

A coalition of troops led by Brigade 1 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), attacked a military convoy in Bilin Township, Mon State, with landmines on the morning of June 22, according to a ground source.

A clash broke out between junta soldiers and the KNLA-led coalition forces after the Myanmar military convoy entered Bilin Township, from neighbouring Thaton Township, Mon State, and encountered the landmines, said a member of the KNLA.

“Four military trucks were attacked with the landmines, causing exchanges of fire between the two sides,” the KNLA official added.

The KNLA official continued that about 30 junta soldiers were killed and two military vehicles were destroyed in the exchange of fire.

Three military vehicles came to the scene of the landmine attack near Kamarsai village, where the military convoy was attacked with the landmines, and stopped traffic for two hours near the Thaton-Bilin road, according to residents of Bilin.

“Vehicles on the way from Thaton to Bilin were stopped on the road for two hours following the military convoy being attacked with landmines. The vehicles and passengers are now allowed to travel but the Myanmar military still tightens security along the road,” a resident of Bilin said.

The regime has not yet commented on the local sourcing indicating that one of its convoys was attacked with landmines, and DMG has not been able to independently confirm those reports.

Clashes between KNU Brigade 1 and the Myanmar military have been frequent along the Kyaikto-Bilin-Thaton highway since the second week of June, according to locals.