Renewed fighting has erupted in the border town of Moebye, located between Shan and Karenni States, which had been held by resistance forces for over a year, with the military conducting repeated aerial attacks, according to Moebye People’s Defense Force (PDF) Battalion 1001.
Fighting has been ongoing since 14 November, with the junta’s offensive being met with counter-attacks by resistance forces, an official from Moebye PDF Battalion 1001 said.
“We absolutely will not surrender even an inch of the territory we’ve captured. We are fighting back with all our strength. The Moebye PDF and local Karenni Nationalities Defense Force KNDF battalions are resisting with full determination,” the official said.
A column of junta soldiers and Pa-O National Organization (PNO) members has been advancing towards Pekon and Moebye towns since August via Pinlaung in Shan State.
During the fighting, the junta has not only employed airstrikes but has also targeted villages and IDP camps where there was no fighting, resulting in casualties, according to local sources.
KNDF spokesperson Ta Eh Soe says the junta battalions based in Moebye and Pekon providing artillery support during the fighting.
“The junta has conducted some offensives in the Moebye area. Both Moebye-based Battalion 422 and another one based in Pekon are providing artillery support,” said Ta Eh Soe.
Currently, junta troops from Battalion 422 remain in Moebye, with Light Infantry Battalions 336 and 421, and Military Operations Command 7 based in Pekhon Township.
Resistance forces claim the junta is attempting to regain control of Moebye and use it as a launching point towards Loikaw.
“They have repeatedly carried out airstrikes to facilitate their offensive. They are trying to retake the territories we’ve won in the Karenni state after Operation 1111,” the Mobye PDF Battalion 1001 official said.
The renewed battle for Moebye has been ongoing for over a week, with no official statement from resistance forces about the current situation.
The Moebye PDF Battalion 1001 and KNDF Battalion 3 are conducting a “Let’s Rally for Rounds” campaign, which aims to collect 500 million kyats, from 15 November to 31 December, so that they can continue defending the territories seized by the resistance forces and ward off the junta offensives.
After Operation 1111, which began on 11 November 2023, resistance forces had taken control of several military-held locations including War Yi Pa Laing, Done Du Htan, Pwe Kone-3, Pwe Kone-1, Nyaung Waing, Pi Kinn Kaw Khu, Hsawng Kan, Si Kar-2, and Set Taw Yar positions, and ultimately taking full control of Moebye town.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.