Karenni resistance fighters claim they shot down an attack helicopter and destroyed an armoured vehicle in Loikaw over the weekend during fierce fighting with the Burma Army (BA) that claimed many lives and eventually forced junta soldiers to withdraw from some areas of Demawso Township, where clashes also happened.

According to the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), the helicopter was shot down at 8pm on Saturday after killing many BA soldiers, destroying the armored vehicle and capturing 11 rifles and various ammunition. The BA sent the gunship and two fighter jets to attack the civilian resistance group at least ten times before it was shot it out of the sky near Dor Mu Kalar.

The KNDF claimed to have killed at least 30 BA soldiers, including a lieutenant, while only one of its own fighters was killed over the weekend.

NMG could not independently confirm any of this information.

The fighting, which began last Thursday in Loikaw's Mai Lon and Pan Kang wards, has forced tens of thousands to flee from the Karenni State capital and Ngar Mai, Chauk Mai and Dor Poesi villages in Demawso Township.

Over the weekend, the junta soldiers raided people's homes in Demawso Township and torched at least 10 houses, the KNDF said. Expecting the BA to launch more airstrikes in Loikaw, the civil resistance group has advised residents to seek safety. Since last year, more than half of Karenni State's 300,000 residents have been affected by the fighting.

On Friday, the Karenni Army captured a junta camp on the Thai border after launching a morning attack that killed scores of Burma Army soldiers (BA) and captured 4 soldiers alive, a Karenni leader told NMG.