KNDF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Marwi has stated that the Military Council is employing airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling to reclaim territories lost in Karenni State, while also escalating ground offensives with significant force.
Karenni State
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) has reported that the Military Council is intensifying its offensives, in an attempt to reclaim previously lost bases and territories within Karenni State.
KNDF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Marwi has stated that the Military Council is employing airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling to reclaim territories lost in Karenni State, while also escalating ground offensives with significant force.
"The resistance movement has entered the stage of attempting to seize towns and villages, and that's why they're making determined efforts to reclaim their lost territories. I think their fierce attacks are driven by this sole objective”, he told NMG.
During the month of August, Karenni State fought over 50 skirmishes, resulting in the elimination of more than 100 Military Council troops and the capture of a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition. Marwi further highlighted that the Military Council's offensive in Karenni State escalated throughout 2023, with an increasingly evident reliance on airstrikes.
"Throughout August, there were clashes along highway roads in Demoso and Hpruso, as well as near the Thailand-Myanmar border and in Mese. The intensity of enemy airstrikes and shelling made it challenging to pinpoint the fiercest battles. When it becomes obvious that they can't secure victory or further advance, they resort to airstrikes”, he said.
In Karenni State, the Military Council is launching a formidable offensive, deploying troops from the 66th and 55th Divisions, in addition to military forces mobilized from the 2nd, 18th, and 14th Central Commands.
As a general practice, the Military Council initiates ground offensives during daylight hours and carries out air raids at night, as reported by KNDF.
KNDF also alleged that the Military Council's airstrikes tend to target civilian areas more frequently than military targets.
After the coup, Karenni State became one of the most significant strongholds in the fight against the military dictatorship, and the resistance forces managed to seize several bases and outposts controlled by the Military Council.
KNDF said that the Military Council is stepping up its use of airstrikes, artillery shelling, and conducting more intense offensives in Karenni State this year compared to 2021 and 2022, all in their quest to recapture lost bases and territories.
