Myanmar Rebels Claim Downing Junta Fighter Jet in Sagaing Amid Conflict

Amid Myanmar's ongoing civil war, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a rebel group, claimed to have shot down a Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jet in Sagaing region, a key resistance stronghold. The jet crashed near Pale township during a PLA attack on a police station, with the military attributing the crash to engine failure during a training flight. This incident marks a rare rebel victory over the junta's air force, which has relied heavily on Russian and Chinese aircraft to maintain control. The PLA released images and videos of the wreckage, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Chinese jets in irregular warfare, especially as this is not the first such loss in the conflict. The military junta has denied enemy action, securing the crash site and continuing investigations. The crash underscores the intensifying conflict and the challenges faced by the junta's air superiority amid widespread armed resistance.