Two aircraft were destroyed and several junta soldiers were reportedly killed or injured after the Taungthaman Air Base in Taungthaman Township, Mandalay Region, was attacked with drone-dropped bombs, according to local sources.
The attack reportedly took place at around 2 p.m. yesterday, September 10, when a resistance group dropped three bombs from drones into the Taungthaman International Airport compound.
Four aircraft were hit in the attack, of which two were damaged beyond repair and could no longer be used, while junta soldiers were also reportedly killed and injured, according to the sources.
Following the attack, Mi-35 attack helicopters were reportedly flown around the area near Taungthaman Airport and carried out retaliatory attacks. A large number of junta troops were also reportedly deployed to reinforce security at the air base and airport.
The drone attack also reportedly disrupted flights at Taungthaman Airport. The airport's arrivals board showed delays for flights scheduled to arrive at approximately 2:10 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to the report.
The military junta has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident, and the identity of the group that carried out the attack has not been independently verified.
Taungthaman Airport is reportedly one of the key air bases used to conduct airstrikes against areas affected by fighting in northern and western Myanmar, according to local sources.
The sources also said that jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft operating from the airport have been used to conduct airstrikes targeting areas of conflict and civilian populations in Kachin, Chin and Rakhine states.
Ref: Khit Thit Media.
