The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied forces captured three military junta positions in the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3, 4, and 7 areas, including the Htee Khee outpost along the Thai-Myanmar border, respective brigades confirmed.
The seized outposts include the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion-598 in Hsaw Hti (Shwekyin) Township, Nyaunglebin District in the KNU Brigade 3 area; the Htee Khee outpost on Thai-Myanmar border, in Myeik-Dawei District in the Brigade 4 area, which had been occupied by Infantry Battalions 25 and 267, and the Ta Hkaw Bi Khee outpost in Hpa-An District in the Brigade 7 area. By the morning of 9 May, joint resistance forces had seized the junta positions.
Officials from the respective brigades confirmed they were still compiling detailed lists of seized weapons and ammunition, and casualty figures.
The joint secretary of KNU’s Nyaunglebin District said: “We’ve seized the (LIB) 598 outpost in an offensive. Last night, they dropped around 53 bombs from aircraft. This morning, we’re clearing up the outpost. We don’t yet have precise details on casualties or the inventory of seized weapons.”
A reliable KNLA source confirmed that Htee Khee outpost, which had been under sustained assault by KNLA and allied forces along the Thai-Myanmar border, was also captured.
“Around 9 a.m. today (9 May), we seized the Htee Khee outpost. I can’t give further details yet,” said a source from the KNLA Brigade 4 area.
The Htee Khee outpost had been under a three-week siege and intense offensive by the KNLA, resulting in nearly half of the over 100 junta soldiers stationed there fleeing to the Thai side. Karen Information Center (KIC) was making attempts to reach out to Padoh Saw El Nah, the secretary of Hpa-An District, for details on seized weapons and casualty figures.
Similarly, the KNLA and allied forces also cleared up the Ta Hkaw Bi Khee outpost – where Company 1 of LB 24 was positioned – in Paing Kyon Township, Hpa-An District under Brigade 7. The joint resistance forces began their offensive on the position on 7 March.
During the KNLA’s assaults on these outposts, the junta responded with airstrikes, forcing local residents to flee to safer areas near the Thai border.
This year, within KNU-controlled territories, junta outposts have faced repeated attacks by KNLA and allied forces. As recently as 19 April, the joint forces seized the tactical outpost of Htee Htar in the Brigade 4 area and the Lay Gaw (Maw Ga Lar) outpost in Nabu Township under the Brigade 7 area, both within a single day.
Sent by KIC.
