PDF attacks interim government forces advancing on Saw town twice, capturing 9 soldiers and seizing weapons and ammunition

The interim government troops heading towards Saw town in Magway Region were attacked twice, resulting in the capture of nine soldiers along with weapons, ammunition, food, vehicles, and military equipment, the People's Defence Force (PDF) General Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence of the National Unity Government (NUG) announced on July 28. The column of approximately 300 interim government troops, led by the 99th Division from the Laungshae Township in Saw Township, departed towards Saw town on July 16. They engaged with PDF district commands and units under the NUG, suffered defeat, and retreated to Laungshae town. It was stated in the release that PDF units under the NUG pursued and engaged the retreating troops, seizing firearms, three trucks loaded with food, food supplies, and military equipment. Subsequently, on July 25, the same column launched a second offensive with approximately 180 troops, receiving air support and attacking from both ground and air. PDF units from the Magway Region Command fiercely resisted, causing them to suffer losses and retreat again, with nine soldiers captured and detained. Fighting between the interim government troops and the PDF is reportedly still intense. During this operation, four MA-1 rifles, three MA-3 rifles, two shotguns, two RPG launchers, 51 rounds of 40mm grenades, 144 rounds of 60mm grenades, 19 rounds of 81mm grenades, 22 rounds of 120mm grenades, and 25 shotgun cartridges were seized. In addition, 5,615 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 379 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition (three types), 1,415 rounds of MG42 ammunition, five hand grenades, six IEDs, 14 RPG casings, 15 RPG projectiles, two MG42 spare barrels, four MG42 ammunition belts, nine anti-personnel mines, one anti-tank mine, 11 directional anti-tank mines, and 22 drone bombs, along with two sets of equipment, were also obtained. Among the seized items were 14 bulletproof helmets, 10 knives, three GBP-128 mine clearance kit boxes, three vehicles, one drone jammer, one drone controller, one large box for drone parts, two phone charging stands, two generators, two spools of electrical wire, five battery chargers, one solar conductor, two RPG sights, two bags of medical supplies, 55 bags of rice, 15 bags of garlic, 14 large bags of golden millet, and one Starlink device, according to the release. Photo – NUG, PDF