At least 11 civilians, including an unknown number of children, have been killed in Karenni State by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force Sept. 1-15. “The attacks were aimed at creating fear among civilians, disrupting their livelihoods,” Banyar Aung, the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC) Secretary-2, told DVB.
On Sept, 14, one civilian was killed during an airstrike in Demoso Township. Demoso is located 11 miles (17 km) south of the Karenni State capital Loikaw. At least five civilians, including a child, were killed by airstrikes in Loikaw and Shadaw townships from Sept. 4-6. Shadaw is located 30 miles (48 km) east of Loikaw.
On Sept. 1, at least five civilians were killed and seven others were injured by retaliatory airstrikes in Hpasawng Township, which is located 73 miles (117 km) south of Loikaw after the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) seized a regime outpost near Loihtwel village.
Sources in Hpasawng’s Mawchi town told DVB that a regime counteroffensive has been on hold, following the recapture of Hpasawng town by regime forces on Feb. 15.
Nine civilians were killed and 10 injured by regime artillery and airstrikes in Demoso, Hpruso and Hpasawng in August, according to the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN).
Karenni’s Hpasawng, Demoso, Hpruso, Bawlakhe and Loikaw towns are under regime control. Mawchi, Mese and Shadaw towns were seized by Karenni resistance forces since a statewide offensive began on Nov. 11, 2023.
