Myanmar’s military has unleashed a heavy aerial barrage as Karen resistance forces move to seize the regime’s final stronghold in Waw Lay, 71 kilometers south of the Myawaddy border trade hub.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allies launched an attack on Saturday morning, triggering intense air and artillery strikes by regime forces, according to resistance sources.
Resistance forces encircled the Waw Lay command base, which would have fallen without air and artillery support, the sources said.
“This is a full-blown assault to wipe out the regime base in Waw Lay. The military is defending its last remaining position here with continuous airstrikes, including suicide drones,” a source close to the KNLA told the Irrawaddy on Monday. He said both sides had suffered casualties in the intensifying battle but did not elaborate.
Resistance units captured regime outposts in late March, driving troops back to the command base for a final stand.
Meanwhile, regime reinforcements dispatched from Myawaddy have been pinned down by resistance forces outside Min Lat Pan village, 55 kilometres north of Waw Lay. Residents have fled the area as the regime targets their homes with a barrage of drones and shells.
“Capturing Waw Lay would hand control of rural Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships on the Thai-Myanmar border to the KNLA and allies, leaving regime troops confined to towns,” said former captain and military defector Zin Yaw.
This would free up resistance mobility and ability to threaten regime command bases in Myawaddy and Kawakareik and defend against the regime’s advance at Min Let Pan.
The Karen Information Centre reports that 12 civilians have been wounded as local residents flee the fighting.
The Thai Army’s Ratchamanu Task Force announced that it had tightened border security and is closely monitoring the situation after shells landed near the border in Tak Province.
On April 22, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned that fighting over the border must not spill over into Thailand. The warning came as his Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow held talks on border security with Myanmar’s new regime in Naypyitaw.
