It is reported that on February 3rd, joint People’s Defense Force were able to occupy Shwe Pyi Aye town in Homalin Township, Sagaing Division and holding for 72 hours, but on February 4th the town was counter attack by the superior force of the military council, as a result they retreated.
On February 1, local defense groups (PDF) entered and occupied Shwe Pyi Aye town which is located on the east bank of the Chindin river, south of Homalin town, near the Indian border. The PDF group said the houses of the local people were damaged and they did not want further destruction of the town and temporarily retreat back.
It is said that after the People’s Defense Forces retreated from Shwe Pyi Aye town, the military council troops reentered the town and cleared the area and shot some local residents.
It is reported that the PDF group was not able to capture the headquarters of the military council in the port of Shwe Pyi Aye because the military council attacked three times with attack helicopters. The NUG Ministry of Defense announced that regional defense cooperation groups were able to shoot down one attack helicopter.
