An official of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) reported the killing of at least 20 soldiers from the Military Council and the seizure of weapons and ammunition during the 8 days of intense battles along Loikaw-Mobye (Mongpai) Road in Karenni (Kayah) State, from July 20th to 28th.
During these battles, the KNDF and joint forces managed to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy Military Council troops and destroy two military vehicles, the official added.
"We got reports that the Military Council's convoy had entered the 54th Battalion camp in Loikaw. Over 20 of their soldiers were killed in the fighting. On July 24th, our joint forces ambushed them and took out two of their vehicles. They definitely suffered heavy losses”, he told Kantarawaddy Times.
Furthermore, KNDF and resistance forces successfully seized five MA-1 rifles, one MA-2 light machine gun, two MA-3 rifles, along with ammunition and military equipment.
The Military Council dispatched a reinforcing convoy of approximately 100 vehicles carrying food and military weapons towards Loikaw. That convoy came under attack by Karenni defense forces along the way. Despite the confrontation, the convoy eventually succeeded in reaching the Military Council camp in Loikaw.
Meanwhile, a second convoy belonging to the Military Council, attempting to reinforce from the Pekon-Mobye Road towards Loikaw, faced an attack from the 3rd Battalion of KNDF and their partner forces near the outskirts of Mobye Township.
On July 24th and 25th, the Military Council troops marching towards Mawcheesusee village outside Loikaw Township, and the Military Council's convoy from Mobye to Loikaw, came under attack from the combined forces of Karenni Army (KA), KNDF 2nd Battalion, 12th Battalion, and 14th Battalion, along with KNDF ETD and People's Defense Force of Loikaw (Loikaw-PDF).
The Military Council is utilizing the Pekon-Mobye-Loikaw main road to enter Loikaw, employing both military convoys and civilian vehicles, leading to intense clashes with local Karenni resistance forces on a daily basis.
As a result of the fierce clashes, the residents of Nwarlawoe and neighboring villages in Loikaw Township were compelled to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
Resistance forces continue to be active on the Loikaw-Mobye-Pekon Road, and there remains a possibility of resumed fighting at any moment. In light of this, KNDF advises local residents to exercise vigilance when using the road.
