Karen resistance seizes outpost in Myawaddy
Sources on the frontline in Karen State told DVB that the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), along with its allied People’s Defence Force (PDF), seized the regime’s Ukarihta outpost in southern Myawaddy Township on Saturday. The outpost is nicknamed the “Living Fence” after a 2024 pro-military propaganda film. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
“Around 90 regime troops fled across the border into Thailand,” a KNLA commander told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He added that Karen resistance forces took one regime troop prisoner and recovered the body of another. Military analysts told DVB that regime forces at the Wawlay outpost, which is located nine miles (14 km) northeast of Ukarihta, will abandon it “soon” due to the KNLA-led offensive.
Thai media reported on Saturday that the Thai army disarmed and detained regime forces, providing them and 467 Myawaddy residents who fled Karen State with humanitarian assistance in Thailand’s Tak Province. The regime’s Ukarihta outpost was a key logistics hub supplying rations and ammunition to the Wawlay outpost, according to media reports. Read more
Union Solidarity and Development Party office attacked
Residents of North Okkalapa Township in Yangon told DVB that two young men in their 20s were arrested by local authorities after an office belonging to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was attacked on Friday. A group calling itself the Yangon Army claimed that it led an attack against the USDP office with an M79 grenade launcher.
“Two young men were arrested on their way home from a tea shop, after the attack. They are being held at the police station and have been allowed to meet with their family members,” a North Okkalapa resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The group claimed that it attacked the office to stop the USDP from its election preparation activities.
It added that it would attack targets and individuals involved in the regime-planned elections. The number of casualties caused by the attack is unknown. The group claimed it successfully fired two grenades at the USDP office. Military personnel, stationed at the township administration office, and police patrolled the area in two vehicles following the attack.
USDP chairperson of Mawkmai killed in Shan State
Residents of Mawkmai Township in southern Shan State told DVB that Sai Nawng Sai, 62, the chairperson of the USDP in Mawkmai, and a former Pyithu Hluttaw member from the 2010-2020, was killed by unknown gunmen on his property on Friday. Mawkmai is located 132 miles (212 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.
“We still don’t know who did it. The military personnel, as well as pro-regime militias, are looking for the culprits,” a Mawkmai resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. A member of the USDP claimed that it had selected Sai Nawng Sai to represent the party in the Mawkmai constituency for the regime-planned elections, expected to begin by December.
He won his seat to represent Mawkmai three times during the elections in 2010, 2015 and 2020. Residents claimed that he cooperated with the military in recruiting for pro-regime militias in southern Shan, following the 2021 coup. The USDP is one of 10 political parties registered with the Union Election Commission (UEC) to run nationwide in 267 out of 330 townships, where polls are expected to be held.
News by Region
SHAN—Kyaukme Township residents told DVB that airstrikes injured an unknown number of civilians, and destroyed at least seven homes, in a residential area on Saturday. This is the third airstrike on civilians documented by residents over the last week.
“Six bombs hit three different locations, including a monastery and a school,” a Kyaukme resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Kyaukme is located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of Lashio. It came under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control on Aug. 5. Read more
A three mile (4.5 km) long stretch of road connecting Pinlaung in southern Shan State to the Karenni State capital Loikaw was reopened by regime forces on Friday. This followed the recapture of Moebye town in Pekon Township from resistance forces on July 2.
Regime media reported that three “terrorists,” or members of the resistance, were killed on the road from July 7 to 11. Regime casualties were not reported. Moebye is located 100 miles (160 km) south of the state capital Taunggyi and 11 miles (17 km) north of Loikaw.
SAGAING—The PDF and residents of Lintalu village in Sagaing Township told DVB that at least 30 civilians were killed and 14 others were injured by an airstrike on a monastery sheltering around 100 residents, displaced from their homes, on Friday.
“Many were killed because the attack occurred while people were sleeping,” a Sagaing resident told DVB. Fighting between the PDF and regime forces has been ongoing over the last month in Sagaing, located 68 miles (109 km) east of the region’s capital Monywa. Read more
KACHIN—A PDF calling itself the Kagabu People’s Force told DVB that the regime has sent reinforcements to Putao Township, located in the northernmost part of Kachin State 213 miles (343 km) north of the state capital Myitkyina.
A source in the PDF told DVB that pro-regime and resistance forces exchanged fire in Tsumpiyang village near Putao town last week. The source added that pro-regime forces consist of militias and newly-conscripted recruits.
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