Resistance forces in Karen State told DVB that 30 regime troops were killed by retaliatory airstrikes as they seized the Thebawboe outpost in southern Myawaddy Township on Tuesday. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-an, and across the Myanmar-Thailand border from Tak Province.
A source in the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) told DVB that around 40 regime troops were either killed or injured during the nine days of fighting over control of the outpost. The exact number of casualties on both sides hasn’t been reported. Those who weren’t killed surrendered, the KNLA source added.
The Thebawboe outpost, located approximately one mile (1.6 km) away from the Myanmar-Thailand border, had 100 troops deployed inside. KNLA-led resistance forces briefly seized the outpost in May 2022 before withdrawing in the face of a regime counteroffensive.
Sources told DVB that over 2,000 residents of Sonesimyaing — near the headquarters of the pro-regime Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) — Ukarihta, Taungni, Thebawboe, and Wamihta villages have fled their homes due to fighting between the KNLA and regime forces in the area since May 21.
“The residents are staying on the Thai side of the [Thaung Yin or Moei] riverbank. With the rain, it’s hard to find shelter, and it doesn’t feel very safe,” a resident of Karen State seeking temporary shelter in Thailand’s Tak Province told DVB on June 3.
KNLA-led resistance forces seized control of the regime’s Bayintnaung outpost on May 29 and the Kanaelay outpost on May 28 — both located in Myawaddy — as well as the Baledo outpost in Kawkareik Township on May 23. Kawkareik is located 26 miles (41 km) west of Myawaddy and 55 miles (88 km) east of Hpa-an.
The Maela (Maw Kawelay), Pulutu, Khaleday, Takhawbikhi, Mawphathu outposts, as well as the Talel strategic outpost, have also been seized by the Karen resistance since March.
All six regime outposts are located in Hlaingbwe Township along the Myanmar-Thailand border. Hlaingbwe is located 23 miles (37 km) north of Hpa-an and 75-101 miles (120-162 km) northwest of Kawkareik and Myawaddy.
The regime still controls its Ukarihta, Wawlay, Htithebalel, Htitapalaw, and Utarikhee outposts along the Myanmar-Thailand border, according to BBC Burmese. Myanmar shares a 1,501 mile (2,416 km) long border with Thailand, and Karen State is bordered by Thailand’s Mae Hong Son, Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces.
