Thailand tightened security on Wednesday along its western border town adjoining Myanmar, where resistance groups continued to clash with a weakened military that has suffered a string of defeats since Oct. 27 when the Brotherhood Alliance launched Operation 1027.

Two Thai military commanders told media that fighting was happening across the border in Myawaddy Township of Karen State. This is a strategically vital trading town in Myanmar that the Karen National Union (KNU), its armed wing the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied People’s Defense Force (PDF), are attempting to seize from the military.

The KNU said its KNLA troops had attacked a military outpost in Thingannyinaung village of Myawaddy Township on Friday, forcing some 600 military personnel and their families to surrender. Regime spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to an interview request from Reuters.

At least 2,000 people have been displaced within Myanmar by the latest round of fighting between the KNLA-led resistance forces and the military, according to the civil society group Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN).

Myanmar’s military, which took power in a 2021 coup after deposing an elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has faced a series of setbacks against a loose alliance of resistance groups nationwide over the last three years.

Regime troops have already lost control of a large swathe of territory along Myanmar’s borders with Bangladesh, China and India, and now the military is facing its latest test along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Since Oct. 27, more than 5,500 regime troops have been killed or captured, including 10 brigadier generals. More than 30 towns are now under the control of resistance forces nationwide. Overall, the regime has lost no less than 30,000 soldiers since the 2021 military coup.

REUTERS