Thu Sep 19 07:27:35 UTC 2024: ## Junta Forces Accused of Killing 12 Women in Ambush, Residents Flee
**Sagaing, Myanmar** – A brutal attack on a vehicle carrying women on their way to work in the Sagaing region of Myanmar has left 12 dead and three injured, according to pro-military media. The incident, which occurred near the junta stronghold of Kywei Pon village on Tuesday, has further escalated tensions in the region, already embroiled in a fierce conflict between the military regime and anti-junta forces.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the military-controlled media blamed it on rebel forces, specifically the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), armed groups that have been actively resisting the junta since the 2021 coup.
Witnesses reported that attackers used firearms and a rocket launcher to ambush the vehicle. Armed individuals within the vehicle reportedly returned fire before junta soldiers arrived at the scene. The military later transported the injured women to the hospital.
The incident sparked fear in the region, with residents fleeing their homes in the aftermath. The junta responded by launching security operations, including artillery strikes on the nearby village of Taung Kyar, targeting suspected PDF positions.
The violence in Sagaing has been escalating for the past three years, with hundreds killed in clashes and airstrikes. The ongoing conflict has forced thousands from their homes and created a volatile environment for civilians.
The incident raises serious concerns about the safety of civilians in the region and underscores the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
First Piper 