The Progressive Karenni People Force (PKPF) stated on Thursday that regime attacks have killed 742 civilians and destroyed 3,031 homes in Karenni State from Feb. 1, 2021 up to April 30. It added that 3,760 regime troops have been killed in 1,323 clashes with resistance forces, which lost 740 of its own fighters. 

“[The regime] carried out air and artillery strikes in addition to a ground offensive,” a People’s Defence Force (PDF) member told DVB on the condition of anonymity after a regime column of 300 troops launched a counteroffensive against Karenni resistance forces in Moebye town of Pekon Township, southern Shan State, on Monday. 

Moebye is located 100 miles (160 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 11 miles (17 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw. It was seized by the Karenni resistance during Operation 1111, which was launched on Nov. 11, 2023.

But the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 422, stationed outside the town, remained under regime control and became the staging ground for a counteroffensive that began on Nov. 14, local media reported.

On April 26, three civilians were injured by an airstrike in Mawchi town of Hpasawng Township. At least six civilians were killed and 10 were injured by an airstrike on Mawchi April 24.

Banyar Aung, the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC) secretary 2, told DVB that two airstrikes were carried out on Mese Township, along the Myanmar-Thailand border, on the same date as Mawchi. No casualties were reported. Hpasawng and Mese are located 73-109 miles (117-175 km) south of Loikaw.

The PKPF claimed that 1,874 airstrikes have destroyed 57 religious buildings, 29 schools and 17 medical facilities in Karenni. The regime in Naypyidaw announced a ceasefire on April 2, later extended to April 30, but it carried out 354 attacks during this period, according to DVB data. 

The resistance claims control over six towns in Karenni, including Mese and Moebye. Loikaw, Bawlakhe and Hpasawng are under regime control.