Ethnic army intercepts junta offensive on Thai
An ethnic armed group intercepted a junta retaliation near the Thai-Myanmar border on Thursday, according to an announcement from rebel forces.
The Karen National Liberation Army, an armed branch of the Karen National Union, along with other allied groups, captured the last remaining junta Infantry Battalion 275 near a border town in Myanmar’s Kayin state on Wednesday.
In response, the junta launched state-level offensive “Operation Aung Zeya” to capture Myawaddy city, according to a Karen National Union statement released Thursday.
Karen National Liberation Army joint forces destroyed military vehicles, including an armored vehicle, while junta troops were marching enroute to Myawaddy, it continued. According to the Karen National Union, more than 100 junta troops were injured and killed, and the group was stopped at Dawna Hills, a mountain range extending through Kayin state.
Radio Free Asia reached out to a Karen National Union spokesperson by phone today to learn more about the retaliation, but he did not respond.
On high alert
A Myawaddy resident who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told RFA that the Karen army had warned some villages about junta airstrikes, which began on Tuesday evening.
“The villages near Infantry Battalion 275 have been ordered to be evacuated by the Karen National Union due to air raids,” he said. “On April 18, people are telling each other to evacuate starting from today.”
Civilians are waiting to go to Thailand through the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, while other Myawaddy residents are monitoring the situation, he said, adding that everyone is worried.
Another resident in the border city said the Karen National Army, formerly the junta-aligned Border Guard Force but now aligned with the KNLA, are patrolling the streets and warning the residents to be prepared to evacuate quickly if heavy fighting breaks out.
Junta forces fired with heavy weapons and bombarded villages along their marching route during their offensive, causing civilian casualties and property damage, the Karen National Union’s statement said.
The junta has not released any information on the attack. RFA called junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for more information, but he did not pick up the phone.
Since April 5, the Karen National Liberation Army and joint forces have captured the junta camps 355, 356 and 357 in Kayin state’s Thin Gan Nyi Naung town, in addition to Falu camp and Kyaik Don Byu Har hill camp and others around Myawaddy city.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
Related articles
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
GOODHOPE, Mo. (AP) — Four people in rural Missouri died when an explosion that could be heard 10 mil2024-05-21Matt Baker reveals the real reason behind him quitting his high
Matt Baker has opened up on his new career path and revealed the real reason behind leaving The One2024-05-21Central gov't appoints veteran diplomat as new commissioner of Chinese FM in Hong Kong
The central government appointed Cui Jianchun, the former Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, as Chinese2024-05-21Technical, technological measures facilitate restoration of seagrass beds
(Xinhua) 13:33, July 21, 2023BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The approach of summer coincides with the2024-05-21Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
WASHINGTON (AP) — The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling that desegregated schools was about more th2024-05-21Huawei enhances youth digital skills in Kenya through 5G technology
(Xinhua) 11:31, July 21, 2023NAIROBI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech firm Huawei said Thursday it2024-05-21
atest comment