NAYPYITAW, 23 September 2021, (TON): The Myanmar army reportedly suffered heavy casualties during a clash with a joint force made up of troops from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local People’s Defence Force (PDF) Sagaing Region’s Katha Township.

The KIA-PDF alliance attacked the junta’s armed forces in the Moedar area, adjacent to Kachin State and located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

Around 40 junta soldiers were killed by the resistance force but neither the KIA nor the PDF suffered casualties, according to a statement released by the defence ministry of the National Unity Government (NUG) later that day.

The NUG did not respond to media request for comment.

The military council did not publish any information on the fighting in Katha.

KIA information official Col Naw Bu confirmed Monday’s clash but said he could not confirm the number of Myanmar army troops killed. 

He told media “I only heard that the wounded soldiers were being treated,”

He added that the junta’s armed forces had withdrawn from the area where the battle took place.