The insurgents of the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta,ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), are committing destructive mine attacks, planting mines and blasting the 31-mile-long reinforced concrete Narte village exit bridge  with 50 feet in length and 25 feet in width at the exit road of Narte village on Lashio-Theinni-Kunlon Union Highway at about 5 am on 17 August and that resulted in the destruction of the bridge and interruption of the transport links, the Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported on August 18.

The combined insurgents destroyed four bridges including Goattwin bridge, the 41-mile bridge, Mongtonsun bridge and Narte village exit bridge on Union Highway on 15 and 17 August and that led to the disruption of the regional transport and they committed destructive mine attacks  destroyed with the intention of demolishing towns and villages, the report of Tatmadaw said.

However, Tatmadaw military columns fought back some 150 combined insurgents who were approaching from the three places of south-west of the town to launch an attack on Kutkai with heavy weapons at about 10 am and that the insurgents retreated from the fighting with lots of casualties. Four clashes broke out between Tatmadaw military columns taking measures of security and prevalence of law and order, and the combined insurgents on Lashio-Kutkai, Nantphatkar-Muse road section and around Theinni-Kunlon Union Highway, the report of Tatmadaw said.

Tatmadaw military columns are going on carrying out security measures to restore peace, stability and law and order with the purpose of reconstructing the damaged bridges immediately and of ensuring safe and secure transport, the report of Tatmadaw said.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut