Karen forces claim regime unit destroyed

The Karen National Union (KNU) says its fighters and allied resistance groups have wiped out a Myanmar military column near Lay Kay Kaw, east of the Dawna Mountain Range.

According to a statement issued Monday, troops from Light Infantry Battalions 203 and 210 under Division 22 advanced into territory controlled by KNU Brigade 6, sparking a fierce clash led by KNLA Colonel Saw Dar Baw. A commander‑level officer was among those killed, while weapons and ammunition were seized. The group reported that many bodies were left behind, though exact casualty figures remain unclear.

Resistance sources said the unit was trapped close to a scam compound raided by the regime days earlier, around six kilometres south of Lay Kay Kaw. Fighting reportedly lasted all day, with drones deployed and regime aircraft launching airstrikes on Tuesday.

The battle comes amid a wider push by junta forces to reclaim ground along the Thai‑Myanmar border. Since November, thousands of troops have been sent south from Myawaddy, with at least five columns now probing resistance‑held areas around Lay Kay Kaw and Palu‑Min Let Pan. Despite air and artillery support, resistance fighters say they have held their positions.

A military defector told The Irrawaddy that Karen forces have learned to counter the regime’s tactics, noting this is not the first time an entire unit has been annihilated. He credited intelligence from defectors and open supply routes for the success.

In its report, the KNU accused the junta of sending forcibly recruited conscripts to the front lines and urged them to defect. Resistance sources say several soldiers have already abandoned their posts in recent days.

The clash highlights the intensifying conflict along Myanmar’s borderlands, where ethnic resistance groups continue to challenge the junta’s attempts to regain control.

-2026-08-05