24 March 2026 — Intense clashes erupted on 24 March 2026 near Valung village in northern Falam township between State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) junta troops and joint Chin resistance forces, according to frontline sources from the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF).
Resistance sources report that the junta column suffered significant casualties during the morning fighting. In response, a Myanmar Air Force jet fighter conducted an aerial bombing raid around noon.
Later that afternoon, between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, a Y-8 military transport aircraft airdropped more than 90 packages of rations and military supplies by parachute near Lumbang village.
The affected column is identified as the fourth reinforcement unit, comprising over 150 troops, which departed from Kalay town on 10 March. It had retreated toward Taingen village, Tedim township on 18 March before resuming its advance toward Valung village the previous day.
A frontline official stated that the joint Chin revolutionary forces sustained no casualties in the Valung engagement. Detailed assessment of junta casualties and fatalities is still ongoing.
The SSPC column — described as the third reinforcement effort along the Kalay-Taingen road — remains positioned at Lumbang and Parte villages, roughly 15 miles (24 km) from Falam town.
Since late October 2025, the junta has launched repeated large-scale counteroffensives to retake Falam, advancing primarily from Kalay in Sagaing Region along routes such as Kalay-Taingen and Kalay-Webula. These operations have involved multiple reinforcement columns supported by artillery, drone strikes, and frequent airstrikes using jet fighters, Y-12, and Y-8 aircraft.
Despite sustained air support and ground advances, junta forces have made limited progress and have been repeatedly stalled by ambushes, landmine attacks, and defensive positions held by Chin resistance groups. Resistance sources consistently report inflicting heavy casualties on junta troops, while relying on guerrilla tactics in the mountainous terrain.
Thousands of residents from villages along the main supply routes have been displaced, many seeking shelter in forests or nearby areas amid ongoing shelling and aerial bombardment. Humanitarian conditions in northern Chin State remain dire, with restricted access complicating independent verification of casualty figures and developments on the ground.
This latest incident near Valung fits a recurring pattern in the Falam campaign, where junta attempts to push forward are met with strong resistance, prompting intensified air support and resupply efforts. The situation in the township remains volatile as both sides continue operations in the area. – Reporting by Daniel
