On 17 February 2022, heavy gun fight broke out between Myanmar military junta and People Defense Force (PDF) and its allies in Mong Bye town, Southern Shan State. Many casualties were reported from both sides, and 7 civilians were shot and injured.

The fight started yesterday in the morning until around 8 P.M. At least 20 casualties from the Myanmar junta side, and 10 soldiers from the PDF and its allies have lost their lives during the gun flight according to a Mong Bye PDF soldier who reported the news to SHAN.

“At least 20 casualties from the Myanmar military junta side. It could be more than that because they have been severely fought. We lost 7 soldiers from our Mong Bye PDF. 6 were injured. The other casualties are from our ally,” a Mong Bye PDF member told SHAN.

From the Mong Bye PDF ally, 2 soldiers from KNDF which is based in Phai Khun were killed and 5 were injured according to a KNDF member.

“I think many casualties from Myanmar army side. But we have yet to get the exact numbers. We have 5 soldiers injured currently, and 2 soldiers have lost their lives,” the above KNDF soldier told SHAN.

After the heavy fight and casualties, Myanmar junta used big artilleries on the PDF which has caused many deaths to the Mong Bye PDF and its ally.

The deaths from the ally force are mostly caused by the big artilleries being shot by the Myanmar junta.

“Most of our comrades lost their lives during the artillery shelling and air strikes from the Myanmar army. We were on the winning side without such shelling and air strikes. We faced a great lost after the shelling and air strike,” the above Mong Bye PDF added.

Apart from the PDF soldiers, one medical doctor who has been helping in the frontline was also killed during the artillery shelling.

“That doctor was helping the injured soldiers from the frontlines. He was killed during his duties trying to provide medical assistance to other soldiers. He was killed during the artillery shelling,” the PDF members told SHAN.

After heavy casualties, Myanmar junta used military tanks, air strikes, and artillery shelling. Some civilians got injured and one woman has lost her legs after being shot from a tank.

“Yesterday, 7 civilians were shot and injured, including a child and two women. One of the women was shot by a tank and injured her legs. Her legs were cut off because of the injuries,” a member of the Mong Bye Rescue Team told SHAN.