Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 24September 2024

Gun fighting erupted between the resistance forces, including People's DefenseForces (PDF), and the junta soldiers in western Madaya township, which is just5 miles away from Mandalay.

"There is heavy fighting going on in Mingun andMadaya towns. The junta forces are conducting airstrikes, especially on Thone Se Pay village. The residents are fleeing and there are casualtiesamong the villagers because of junta’s air strikes,” said a resident ofMandalay.

Since 6  am on 21 September, the fighting broke out in Mingun and Madayaareas as well as in Thone Sel Pay and Nyaung Kone villages, where the junta soldiers conducted airstrikes and shelling.

Wetlet Informational Network released a statement on 21 September saying thatthe junta forces also set many public houses of  Thone Se Pay village onfire. They also conducted six airstrikes using a fighter jet that flew fromTada-U airport.

The residents reported that the fighting was intenseand they could hear the sound of shelling and airstrikes.

In Thone Se Pay village, frequent clashes werereported and the junta forces conducted airstrikes and shelling to prevent thePDF columns marching towards Mandalay.

Many residents of Thone Se Pay village and surrounding areas fled to otherplaces.

On 20 September, the junta soldiers conducted airstrikes on Ngan Myar Gyivillage in Ngan Zun township under Mandalay region. Later on 21 September, theycarried out airstrikes on Moe Htaung and Kone Lel villages.