WASHINGTON, 02 November 2021, (TON): The United States has expressed concern about increased military operations in parts of Myanmar, including Chin state, where it said more than 100 homes and churches had been destroyed in the offensive.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a February 1 coup and the United Nations and local media have recently reported a build-up of heavy weapons and troops, suggesting an imminent attack by the ruling military.

The US State Department said "we are also deeply concerned over the Burmese security forces’ intensification of military operations in various parts of the country.”

It accused security forces of gross human rights violations which it said laid bare the regime's disregard for peoples' lives and welfare.

Witnesses, aid groups and local media have reported burning down of houses and an exodus of people from Thantlang town in Chin state.

Salai, a member of a local anti-junta militia, said the army fired artillery into the town on October 29, starting off a fire in some houses.

Soldiers then set fire to houses, Salai said, adding he could see from a hill overlooking the town.

He told media "we saw the smoke and we knew that some of our homes were on fire. There was nothing that we could do about it, just to watch the burning.”

He said “drone footage the next day showed 164 houses and two churches were destroyed.”