April 11th, 2022
The military council is carrying airstrikes in Lay Kay Kaw as it suffers heavy casualties in the fighting with the cobra military column which is an ally of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), according to the commanders of the KNLA.
Since 2 am today, the fighting erupted in Lay Kay Kaw. Following heavy casualties, the military carried out aerial surveillance.
Soon, the military conducted airstrikes three times using jet fighters and helicopters, a person close to the KNLA told the KIC.
Due to the military’s airstrikes, the houses in some wards of Lay Kay Kaw new town are destroyed and on fire. More than 20 soldiers of the military council were killed in the fighting. A captain from No.44 Battalion was arrested alive, according to the ground information.
A new source close to the cobra military column said: “Two members of the KNLA and the allied force were killed and five others injured in the fighting. Around 20 soldiers of the military council were killed. Their military units are stranded at the foot of the viewpoint strategic hill.”
The shells did not land on the KNLA’s active areas. The shells landed on the camp of Major Saw Moke Thone, commander of No.4 Station of the BGF in Malhtawthalay, Myittarlinmyain and Shwenyaungbin.
Although the KNLA said some members of the Border Guard Force (BGF) were killed and injured, the KIC was unable to separately confirm it.
At night on April 9th, two military columns of around 200 soldiers from No.22 Battalion, the battalions under the coastal command, the battalion under No.44 Battalion and the military-backed BGF attacked the combined force of the KNLA in Hteemalwahkhee village and wards in Lay Kay Kaw.
Major Tin Lin Aung, Deputy Commander of the LIB-585 who joined the KNLA on March 25th and some CDM soldiers are also involved in the fighting.
Sent by the KIC.