A Myanmar warplane has encountered an unfortunate incident amidst the ongoing confrontations between the military and an insurgent faction, as confirmed by both parties involved.
This occurrence deals yet another blow to the junta, which is currently grappling with its most formidable opposition since the coup that took place in 2021.
The aircraft plummeted in the vicinity of Kayah State, situated in eastern Myanmar and close to the border shared with Thailand, on Saturday. The unfortunate event unfolded during intense clashes between the military and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF). The KNDF asserted responsibility for downing the aircraft.
Junta representative Zaw Min Tun conveyed to the state-operated MRTV that the aircraft met with an unfortunate crash owing to a technical complication. Furthermore, he stated that the pilots had successfully ejected from the aircraft and were presently in communication with the military.
This occurrence coincides with the ongoing confrontations between Myanmar’s military and opposition factions across various fronts. Ethnic minority forces and anti-junta militias have launched a rebellion that security analysts assert is marked by an unparalleled degree of coordination.
The president imposed by the military expressed concern last week that Myanmar faced the peril of fragmentation as a result of the inadequate handling of the insurgency.
The conflict in Shan State, situated in the northeastern region bordering China, has resulted in the displacement of no less than 50,000 individuals. Trade routes have been severed, and several towns have been captured since the commencement of an anti-junta offensive by three insurgent groups representing ethnic minorities.
China has issued a call for all parties involved to bring an end to the ongoing hostilities.
The insurgent alliance says it has seized more than 100 army posts. Assaults on towns have also taken place in the Sagaing region, in central Myanmar, west of Shan State.