Battles continue fiercely in southern Myawaddy, with heavy casualties for the junta troops and 4 captured alive

Video – Prisoners and weapons and ammunition captured during the fighting in the southern part of Myawaddy Township, on the Thai-Myanmar border. (Saw Kaw) YT (July 1) Mizzima. – Resistance forces announced on July 16 that junta troops have suffered heavy casualties in the fierce battles taking place in the southern part of Myawaddy Township, on the Thai-Myanmar border, with four soldiers captured alive and weapons and ammunition seized. Sources said that the capture and seizure occurred when resistance forces attacked a column under the command of the junta's Operation Command Headquarters (SKK) 13 on the afternoon of July 16. "Yes, that's right. Among those who died was Deputy Regiment Commander Tin Ko. He was leading the column. It was from 556. About 20 people died in total," a ground military source said. In recent days, a junta column heading to Leykegaw Ye Kon (Karen National Police Force (KNPF) camp), which had been occupied by the junta, came under attack by resistance forces on the Mekne-Thephyuchuang road near Leykegaw New City. The junta forces are advancing in at least three columns into the areas around Phalu, Minlapan, and Leykegaw New City in southern Myawaddy Township. Consequently, battles have been raging between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) joint forces and the junta joint forces since the night of July 7, with the junta forces fiercely resisting with air support. It is known that these junta columns include Division 22, Operation Command Headquarters SKK 13, as well as the splinter group of Brigadier General Bi of the DKBA and the group of Brigadier General Mot Hsun of the BGF. The junta forces are conducting airstrikes not only on the battle areas but also inside villages. "The enemy is using superior forces to attack Phalu and Minlapan areas. Not only superior forces, but they are also attacking resistance forces with air power, suicide drones, and heavy weapons, and bombing and destroying civilian homes. Due to the attacks by our resistance forces, many soldiers under the junta are suffering severe injuries and many are dying daily. In these battles, the enemy is using civilians who have been forcibly conscripted or illegally arrested," the Black Panther column also announced. It is understood that the junta forces have been launching offensive operations since the end of 2025 to recapture border outposts lost to the KNLA joint forces and to regain full control of the Thai-Myanmar border region, but they have not yet been able to advance due to the blocking attacks by the KNLA joint forces. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo