KAREN STATE – An officer from the People’s Defence Force (PDF) Southern Military Region confirmed that a junta helicopter was shot down in Thingangnyinaung near Myawaddy in Karen State and that around five junta soldiers and officers including the commander of junta infantry division 44 Brigadier General Aye Min Naung were potentially killed.
The junta helicopter heading to light infantry 355 in Thingangnyinaung was said to have been shot down on Monday (January 29) around 2:30 p.m. The division 44 commander Brigadier General Aye Min Naung who was on board was seriously injured and five members of the junta military were estimated to have died.
The officer from PDF Southern Military Region explained that two junta helicopters that came to inspect light infantry 355 base in Thingangnyinaung were attacked with missiles, 0.5 and snipers by Cobra Column, the joint Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and PDF column from Military Sub-Region 3, PDF Southern Military Region and one of the helicopters crashed after the pilot was hit.
“We, Cobra Column, the joint KNLA/PDF column from Military Sub-Region 3, PDF Southern Military Region attacked the two helicopters that came to inspect junta light infantry 355, using various weapons. A Eurocopter helicopter, usually used by higher-ups in the junta council, crashed and division 44 commander Brigadier General Aye Min Naung was seriously injured. It is highly likely that he won’t survive. Initial reports said that around five were killed. We are still investigating the details,” said the PDF officer.
The junta council is reportedly carrying out rescue works at the helicopter crash site. The details of the crash are still under investigation.