Seven soldiers from the Military Junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 31 (LIB-31) were killed, and three others sustained injuries during an attack on their positions in Khaw Zar Township, Mon State, according to a statement released by the NMSP-AD on January 24.

The clash occurred on the morning of January 23, around 8 a.m., when the Mon Resistance Forces, in collaboration with allied forces, launched a coordinated attack on both the LIB-31 base in Khaw Zar and its checkpoint located between Mitaingtine Village and Khaw Zar. The confrontation lasted approximately 30 minutes.
A spokesperson for the NMSP-AD, Nai Gongsakar, said, “Our resistance forces targeted both the LIB-31 base in Khaw Zar and their checkpoint between Mitaingtine Village and Khaw Zar town. That checkpoint has been extorting money from travelers, which prompted us to take action. During the operation, we inflicted casualties on their side. After the clash, the junta forces fired mortars indiscriminately in retaliation.”
According to Nai Gongsakar, the allied resistance forces, including the New Mon State Party (NMSP-AD), the Mon State Revolutionary Front (MSRF), and the People’s Defense Force (PDF), successfully retreated without suffering any casualties.
Following the skirmish, junta forces reportedly fired mortar shells indiscriminately from the LIB-31 base, causing panic among nearby residents. A local resident shared, “We could hear the sounds of heavy weapons from the base yesterday. Those living near the battalion fled briefly, but most have since returned.”
The attack was a joint operation involving the Mon Resistance Forces, including the NMSP-AD, MSRF, and PDF, aiming to counter the junta’s increasing presence and activities in the area.
The ongoing conflict has heightened tensions in Khaw Zar Township, with residents expressing concerns about the potential for further violence.