Indonesian military op in Papua region, 18 rebels dead

Officials have reported that 18 Papuan separatists were killed during an operation in the easternmost region of Papua conducted by the Indonesian military. In addition, three civilians lost their lives in the crossfire between soldiers and rebels. The Indonesian military did not suffer any casualties. Approximately 1,000 residents were evacuated during the operation, which was reportedly carried out while villagers were asleep, according to the head of a Papua-based religious group, who informed the media of the incident. The Indonesian military deployed personnel to the area of the operation to anticipate the rebels’ movements, according to an official statement. The operation concluded with the Indonesian military seizing an assault rifle, ammunition, bows, and arrows, and an unspecified homemade weapon, as stated in a statement by military spokesman Kristomei Sianturi.