Battle for strategic military outpost in Kayin State continues for fourth day

By DMG 29 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
June 29 2022, Myawaddy, Kayin State

Fighting between junta troops and the combined forces of ethnic Karen armed organisations and resistance groups raged on Wednesday as the latter tried to seize a strategic junta outpost in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township, and the regime responded with air strikes.

The Karen National Union’s armed wings — the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defense Organisation (KNDO) — and other Kayin State-based militants have been attacking the Ukayi Hta military outpost in Waw Lay, near the Thai border, since Sunday.

“We have been trying to seize the military outpost. The regime is dropping bombs from the air,” a source from KNLA Brigade 6 told DMG.

Both sides have reportedly suffered casualties in the fighting, which has continued over the past four days. The KNDO has suffered eight casualties in the junta’s artillery and aerial attacks, according to a KNLA member.

“Around 20 junta soldiers have been killed in the fighting. Both sides may suffer more casualties as the fighting continues,” he said.

DMG was unable to independently verify the cited casualty figures.

Resistance fighters were able to partially seize the outpost on Tuesday night, but the regime dispatched reinforcements by Wednesday morning, and was reportedly attacking with jet fighters and artillery.

A KNDO fighter at the frontline said on Wednesday at noon: “They have dropped bombs around 11 times near the outpost. Aircraft are still flying now.”

The outpost is strategically located at the Falu-Waw Lay-Sukali intersection, about 500 feet from the Thai-Myanmar border and some 18 miles south of Myawaddy town.