Hello everyone. From this moment onward, we will be reading and presenting m.CDM’s domestic news.
Today’s headlines include:
Revolutionary forces attacked and seized the Kantalu-to Gate (a checkpoint) near Sagaing City.
The terrorist military shelled Yelaymaw Village, killing three civilians.
On the Rakhine–Bago border, the Arakan Army (AA) ambushed a junta supply column; in Sittwe, 10 soldiers fled with their weapons.
At the International Court of Justice (ICJ), U Ko Ko Hlaing, speaking for Myanmar, indirectly denied state responsibility in the Rohingya genocide case by suggesting it was only the actions of individual low-ranking soldiers.
We will now begin with the first report.
1) Revolutionary forces seize the Kantalu-to checkpoint near Sagaing City
m.CDM – January 16
The Sagaing People’s Defense Force (PDF) and the Lin Yone Nyi Naung guerrilla unit announced that they raided, attacked, and seized the Kantalu-to Gate, a junta checkpoint located near Sagaing City in Sagaing Region.
They said the operation took place on the night of January 15, carried out jointly by the Sagaing PDF, the Sagaing Township PaKaPha, and the Lin Yone Nyi Naung unit. It was also reported that female fighters from the Sagaing PDF participated in the attack.
During the clash, three junta soldiers were confirmed killed, and there may have been additional casualties. Survivors reportedly fled toward nearby sites including Police Training School (3), Police Battalion (16), and the Ountao electrical substation.
After the checkpoint was fully seized, reinforcements reportedly arrived from inside Sagaing city in 22 civilian vehicles, prompting the revolutionary forces to destroy the checkpoint with mines before withdrawing.
Following the attack, junta troops stationed inside Sagaing University reportedly fired three rounds of artillery indiscriminately, with shells landing in Byaittayar Village, killing one civilian.
2) Junta shelling kills three civilians in Yelaymaw Village
m.CDM – January 16
The Wetlet Informational Network reported that three civilians were killed after the terrorist military shelled Yelaymaw Village, located in the eastern part of Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region.
According to the report, troops stationed at Zayatphyu Village in western Madaya Township (Mandalay Region), as well as troops based in Kyunkyii Village and Kyathtuyae Village in Singu Township, fired repeated 81mm and 120mm mortar rounds into Yelaymaw Village on January 15.
Local sources said the forces fired about 15 heavy-weapon rounds in a single day, striking an area where displaced civilians were staying.
Those killed were identified as:
U Win Kyaw (over 40)
Ma Khin Yu (40)
Ma Aye Chaw (over 30)
The military reportedly entered villages in western Singu Township on January 2 and remains stationed in Kyunkyii and Kyathtuyae. Soldiers were also reported in Htone Bo Village and Sha Kwe Village in northeastern Wetlet Township, and on the morning of January 16 they were said to have reached Yegamoe Village.
3) AA ambushes junta supply column; 10 soldiers flee with weapons in Sittwe
m.CDM – January 16
Ground sources reported that on the morning of January 16, the Arakan Army (AA) and allied resistance forces ambushed a junta column attempting to deliver supplies to a unit trapped between the junta’s Defense Industries factory (KaPaSa 16) and Point 666 Hill Base near Mathun Village, close to Ushittpin Town in Pandaung Township, Bago Region.
The column, reportedly around 100 troops, was engaged for about 30 minutes, suffering casualties, and the resistance forces reportedly seized some supply packs.
It was also reported that earlier this month a separate junta column of about 200 troops left KaPaSa (16) to deliver supplies to Point 666, but became trapped mid-route due to AA interdiction.
After the clash, junta forces reportedly continued firing in the area using drones and paramotors. More than 200 junta troops were also said to be trapped at Point 666, facing shortages of supplies.
On January 13, supply drops delivered by Y-12 aircraft to Point 666 were reportedly seized by AA and allied forces.
Separately, amid heavy fighting in Sittwe, it was reported that 10 armed personnel fled—seven junta soldiers and three members of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)—taking their weapons with them. They reportedly fled on January 12 while assigned to security duty near Shwe Min Gan outside Sittwe, and may have reached AA-held areas.
On the night of January 14, three additional junta soldiers were reportedly said to have fled from Police Battalion 36.
Reports also indicate that as AA attacks on outposts outside Sittwe intensified and more junta checkpoints were captured, anxiety among military families has increased, and desertions have become more frequent.
4) Two monks injured in airstrike in Kani Township
m.CDM – January 16
Local residents and officials from the Kani Township administration said that a junta airstrike on Shan Myaung Village in Kani Township, Sagaing Region, injured two monks and damaged monastery buildings.
They reported that on the afternoon of January 15, two gyrocopters from the Northwestern Regional Military Command (NaMaKha) bombed the village, and drones launched from Kani also carried out bombings.
The attacks reportedly struck non-military targets, damaging the Gandhakuti Hall (Dhamma Hall) and the Aung Mingalar Monastery on the Aung Zayyar Pagoda Hill in Shan Myaung Village. One resident monk and one forest-dwelling monk were injured.
Shan Myaung Village is reportedly about one mile from Kani town.
In Kani Township (part of Yinmabin District), much of the area is reportedly controlled by NUG-aligned People’s Administration bodies and resistance battalions, while the junta is said to control only three wards in Kani town and a communications tower base.
5) Resistance attacks junta column and Yenanthar police outpost; about 7 soldiers reported killed
m.CDM – January 16
Battalion (4) of Thayet District reported that resistance forces attacked a junta column that had departed from the Yenanthar police outpost in Kanma Township, Magway Region, as well as the outpost itself, resulting in the deaths of roughly seven junta personnel.
On January 15, a column of about 100 troops advanced from the outpost toward Min Village. Resistance forces reportedly ambushed them at around 3:00 PM, and fighting lasted about 10 minutes.
Following the clash, the junta troops reportedly threatened civilians from Tawma Kone Village, looted civilian property, and retreated back to the Yenanthar outpost.
After the column returned, resistance forces reportedly attacked the outpost at about 9:30 PM using three 40mm rounds, with explosions occurring inside the compound.
Reports also said the junta has deployed large forces and split them into multiple columns operating across Thayet, Kanma, and Mindon townships.
On the same day, another column of about 200 troops departing from Sinkaw police station in Thayet Township reportedly spent the night in Chinnits Village, and the next morning fired indiscriminately with heavy weapons before advancing into villages in Mindon Township, including Kantwin, Lelpyar, and Letpwe.
It was further reported that these columns have been breaking into homes, causing many civilians to flee. Since December 5, junta columns have reportedly burned eight houses in Thaphan Kone Village (Mindon Township) and 38 houses in Puzindar Village, and have raided and looted homes and supplies in multiple villages in Thayet Township.
Due to heightened tension from ongoing junta operations in Thayet, Kanma, and Mindon, residents have been warned to stay alert, and to prepare precautions against airstrikes and heavy-weapon attacks.
6) Drone strike kills Pyu Saw Htee leader and about 10 members in Yesagyo Township
m.CDM – January 16
Yesagyo Township PaKaPha reported that at around 5:30 PM on January 15, it carried out a drone bombing on Sinchaung Pyu Village, located by the roadside along the Yesagyo–Pakokku highway.
It was reported that roughly 10 Pyu Saw Htee members, including a leader named Linn Htin (aka Ngalinn), were killed.
The group said Linn Htin is a relative of former minister U Soe Maung, and that there had long been evidence accusing him of aggressively extorting money from civilians and of abducting and sexually assaulting young girls.
They stated that they had monitored him for more than a month—using aerial scouting and daily observation by ground sniper teams—and conducted the strike after confirming the group was gathered together.
Yesagyo Township PaKaPha warned travelers to be cautious when moving near Sinchaung Pyu Village.
7) Soldiers ambushed after extorting money on the Naypyidaw–Taungdwingyi railway; 4 killed, weapons seized
m.CDM – January 16
The Ponnawati People’s Defense Force announced that revolutionary forces ambushed junta soldiers returning after collecting extortion payments along the Naypyidaw–Taungdwingyi railway line in Taungdwingyi Township, Magway Region. The attack reportedly killed four soldiers, and resistance forces seized five firearms and ammunition.
The group said troops based in Pyin Chaung Village had been extorting money from oxcarts and bamboo carts near the entrance road to Kularma Village along the railway. As they returned toward Pyin Chaung at around 8:00 PM on January 14, resistance forces ambushed them.
The resistance force reported:
4 killed, 1 seriously wounded
Weapons seized: 4 MA-1 rifles, 1 M79, six 40mm grenades, 990 rounds, 10 magazines, and 2 ballistic plates
The operation was reportedly carried out jointly by:
Ponnawati PDF (Taungdwingyi)
Thayet District Battalion (5) (Sinpaungwe Township)
South Magway PDF
Magway guerrilla forces
😎 Civilians killed and injured in airstrikes and arson in Myingyan, Wetlet, and Myaing
m.CDM – January 16
Local reports said that on the evening of January 15, an aircraft bombed Thuzayphyu Kone Village in Myingyan District’s Ngathayaukgyi Township (Mandalay Region) while a football match was taking place.
At least 3 to 6 people were reported killed, and more than 30 injured. Because some injuries were severe—including loss of limbs—the death toll could rise.
In another incident, an airstrike hit a school compound in Nyaung Kan Village in eastern Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, three times on the morning of January 16. A displaced woman in her 30s was reported killed, about five people injured, two school buildings and one house burned down, and one animal also died.
Similarly, in Nauk Kan Village in Myaing Township, Magway Region, about 90 homes were reportedly burned on the evening of January 15, and one woman was reported killed. Significant agricultural crops were also destroyed by fire.
9) Vehicle transporting election ballots from Chaung-U hit by a landmine
m.CDM – January 16
Monywa District Battalion 4, Unit 2 (5/Commando Force) released video evidence stating that it attacked vehicles transporting ballots for the “sham election” from Chaung-U in Sagaing Region.
They said three armored vehicles from the Northwestern Regional Military Command arrived at Ma-U Gate around 6:30 AM on January 13, set up ambush positions, and extorted money from passing vehicles.
When two civilian cars carrying election ballots from Chaung-U arrived near Tantapyhu bridge, resistance forces detonated a remote-controlled forward mine, striking the soldiers at the extortion point.
A responsible officer from the 5/Commando Force confirmed to some local media outlets that two soldiers were killed.
The operation was carried out jointly by:
Monywa District PDF Battalion 4, Unit 2 (5/Commando Force)
Monywa District PDF Battalion 28, Unit 3
10) At the ICJ, Myanmar’s representative implies abuses were individual acts by low-ranking soldiers
m.CDM – January 16
It was reported that on January 16, Myanmar’s junta delegation began presenting its counter-arguments at a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where The Gambia has filed a case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya.
The Myanmar delegation, led by U Ko Ko Hlaing, Minister in the State Administration Council’s President’s Office Ministry (2), reportedly argued as a key defense that there was no intent to commit genocide.
In his statement to the court, U Ko Ko Hlaing reportedly said:
“This case must be decided on evidence, not on incomplete allegations. Emotional language and vague portrayals of events cannot substitute for presenting facts precisely.”
Reuters, CNA, and Al Jazeera interpreted his remarks as an indirect denial of state responsibility—emphasizing that brutal killings, rape, and arson were not ordered by the government or military, but were only the individual actions of lower-ranking soldiers.
He also reportedly said the 2017 “clearance operations” in northern Rakhine State were carried out only as a response to ARSA attacks on police posts, and that the operations constituted counterterrorism or counterinsurgency actions.
Finally, today’s news reports were contributed by Ko Thit, Lu Lay, and Kharshell.