24 March 2026 — Fresh clashes broke out on 24 March 2026 near Valung village in Falam township between Myanmar junta troops under the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) and a joint force of Chin resistance groups.
Unconfirmed reports suggest casualties among the SSPC forces, though specific numbers and details could not be independently verified. A spokesperson from the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) stated that the joint Chin resistance forces sustained no casualties in the engagement.
The incident forms part of the junta’s ongoing offensive, now stretching over five months, to regain control of Falam township, which Chin resistance forces seized in early 2025 after a prolonged battle known as “Mission Jerusalem.”
Despite heavy aerial and ground operations, junta columns advancing from Kalay (Kale) in Sagaing Region have faced stiff resistance and made limited progress.
Resistance sources report that the SSPC continues to rely on a Y-12 transport aircraft for daily supply drops to its troops positioned in the Sumhrang and Khuangli areas, northwest of Falam town. These resupply efforts have become critical as ground advances remain stalled amid ambushes, landmine attacks, and defensive positions held by Chin forces.
The prolonged fighting has caused significant civilian hardship. Residents from at least 34 villages along the Kalay–Taingen and Kalay–Webula routes — spanning parts of Tedim and Falam townships — have been displaced.
Many have sought shelter in nearby forests or neighbouring villages, adding to the humanitarian strain in northern Chin State, where thousands have already fled repeated junta offensives since late 2025.
Background Context
Falam, strategically located near the India-Myanmar border, fell to allied Chin resistance groups — including the Chin National Army (CNA), Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), and various Chin Defence Forces (CDF) — in April 2025 after months of intense fighting.
The victory allowed resistance forces to establish local governance in much of the township.
Since November 2025, the junta has launched repeated reinforcement operations along key roads from Kalay, backed by artillery, drone strikes, and extensive airstrikes using jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft. Resistance coalitions under the Chinland Council and Chin Brotherhood Alliance have mounted determined defences, inflicting heavy losses on junta columns while suffering their own casualties in earlier phases of the campaign.
The current offensive reflects the junta’s persistent attempts to reverse territorial losses in Chin State, where anti-regime forces control large rural areas despite ongoing internal divisions among some Chin armed groups.
The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of civilians across the region, exacerbating food shortages, access to healthcare, and living conditions for those sheltering in makeshift camps or forests.No independent confirmation of the latest casualty figures or exact tactical developments was available at the time of reporting. The situation in Falam township remains volatile, with both sides continuing operations in the area. – Reporting by Daniel
