16 Myanmar soldiers killed in clashes near Chinese border

Myanmar state media said on April 16 that 16 soldiers were killed in an attack to push rebels away from a strategic hill in the northeastern region bordering China.

The conflict between government troops and Kokang ethnic rebels in Shan State since February 9 has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes to China for refuge.

Myanmar army soldiers (Source: AFP)

According to AFP, during this conflict, Myanmar government forces conducted airstrikes into Chinese territory, killing many civilians.

"16 Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) soldiers and officers died for the country and 110 others were injured," the Myanmar-language Mirror newspaper said.

Government forces are currently conducting a 10-day campaign, which ended on April 15, to retake the strategic hill and destroy more than a dozen rebel bunkers.

The Mirror newspaper said government troops discovered two bodies of Kokang rebels along with many large and small weapons./.

According to VNA