CDF says fighting continues in Thantlang

Photo – Although the military junta announced that it had taken full control of Thantlang town in Chin State, the Chin Defence Force (CDF) Thantlang responded that the announcement was merely propaganda and that fighting was still ongoing in the town. Pakoohkwee (July 17) Although the military junta announced that it had taken full control of Thantlang town in Chin State, the announcement was merely propaganda and fighting was still ongoing in the town, a spokesperson for the Chin Defence Force-Thantlang (CDF-Thantlang) told Mizzima. Junta-controlled media reported on July 16 that they had regained full control of Thantlang town, and that during the offensive that began on June 12, they had successively captured the township police station, schools, public hospital, fire station, and hotel zone. However, a spokesperson for CDF-Thantlang said, "It is not true that the entire town has been captured. It was released as a psychological operation. We are continuing to defend our bases and fight back." According to the spokesperson, the military junta attacked using troops, heavy weapons, drones, and bombs suspected to be chemical weapons, forcing them to temporarily abandon some bases, but fighting is still ongoing. Currently, the military junta controls wards 2 and 3 in Thantlang town, while the Chin National Army (CNA) and allied forces continue to be based in ward 1 and are fighting back, CDF-Thantlang said. CDF-Thantlang spokesperson said that both sides suffered casualties in the fighting, with approximately 30 junta soldiers killed and about 50 wounded, according to internal sources. This information has not yet been independently verified. He also stated that they are cooperating with forces under the Chin State Interim Authority to regain control of Thantlang town, including the areas that were lost. CDF-Thantlang stated that most of the buildings in Thantlang town were previously destroyed by arson by the military junta, and that the remaining buildings are also being continuously set on fire, making it unrealistic to call on local residents to return to their homes and that it is merely propaganda.