The Myanmar junta has intensified its aerial assault on Falam Township in Chin State, leaving at least six dead and causing significant destruction over the past several days.

On November 26, 2024, at around 10:40 AM, a jet fighter launched an airstrike on Lumte Village, located roughly 20 miles from Falam Town. The attack resulted in the deaths of five men and one woman, with additional injuries reported. Six houses, including the local rural health center, were also destroyed. A local resident confirmed the devastating toll to the Rihli Voice, saying, “A jet fighter dropped bombs, killing six villagers and injuring others.”

The bombing in Lumte Village occurred amid escalating clashes in Falam Township, where forces from the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chin Brotherhood Alliance (CBA) have been actively confronting the military junta. CNDF is the armed wing of Chin National Organization (CNO). The junta’s airstrikes have been a part of a larger campaign targeting areas with resistance activity, including several villages in Falam.

Just a day earlier, on November 25, at around 11:50 PM, another strike targeted the Ngasip Var Hydropower Plant, located 12 miles north of Falam Town. According to a local source, the attack destroyed both the power plant and the residence of the plant manager. “A military aircraft bombed last night, destroying the power plant, but fortunately, there were no casualties,” a resident reported to the Rihli Voice. The plant, built in 1986, has a capacity of 1000 kW, providing crucial power to the region. (The Rihli Voice, November 26, 2024). Khonumthung Burmese reported that a temple and several homes were also damaged in Var village nearby the power plant.

In a separate incident, the military junta also targeted Cerhmun Village on November 27, conducting two airstrikes at 10:08 PM and 10:14 PM. While there were no reported injuries, villagers remain fearful due to the ongoing, seemingly indiscriminate nature of the attacks. (The Rihli Voice, November 28, 2024)

The frequent airstrikes on villages with no active clashes have caused widespread anxiety in Falam Township. Residents are calling for greater vigilance as they face the growing threat and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, which has severely impacted lives and essential services.

The Chin Brotherhood Alliance announced on November 14, 2024, that its forces began operations in Mindat and Falam on November 9, leading to intense fighting. However, neither the Chin National Defense Force (CNDF) nor the alliance has commented on the recent strikes.

Feature image: A residential home destroyed by SAC airstrike on November 26 in Lumte village. (Photo: The Rihli Voice)