Sources on the frontline in southern Shan State told DVB that pro-regime forces, including the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), regained control of Moebye town, Pekon Township, on Wednesday. Moebye is located 100 miles (160 km) south of the state capital Taunggyi and 11 miles (17 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.
“We lost Moebye [to regime forces],” a source told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that the regime’s counteroffensive, launched in November, used “overwhelming force” against the resistance, which has held Moebye and six other towns in Karenni since it seized them during “Operation 1111” started on Nov. 11, 2023.
The Shan South National Defence Force/Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (SSNDF/KNDF) announced on July 2 that two of its members were killed by regime forces June 29-30. “They launched a counteroffensive against our positions on June 29 with support from artillery fire and airstrikes,” an SSNDF/KNDF spokesperson told DVB.
Karenni resistance forces captured the regime Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 134 in Hpasawng Township on July 2. Hpasawng is located 73-77 miles (117-123 km) south of Loikaw and Moebye. Hpasawng, Loikaw and Bawlakhe remain under regime control.
Now the LIB 135 is the remaining regime outpost in Hpasawng. Local media reported that resistance forces began their attack against regime outposts there in February 2024.
A member of the Karenni resistance in Hpasawng confirmed to DVB that they had found a missing Myanmar Air Force fighter jet which crash landed near the town on July 3. KNDF Deputy Commander Maui Pho Thaike claimed on social media that resistance members shot down the aircraft, reportedly on its way to carry out airstrikes on July 1.
The regime announced on July 3 that it lost connection with the aircraft “during training due to possible technical problems or bad weather.” The model number of the aircraft and passenger list were undisclosed.
The KNDF announced on July 1 that three of its members were killed during fighting with regime forces in an undisclosed location in Karenni on June 26.
The Progressive Karenni People Force (PKPF) has documented 580 civilians and 801 resistance members from the KNDF, the People’s Defence Force (PDF), and the Karenni Army (KA), have been killed by regime forces since the uprising to the 2021 coup began.
