Nearly entire column of SAC forces annihilated in Myawaddy’s “Ye Kon” battle, Deputy Battalion Commander Maj. Tin Ko among many killed, 4 PDF members captured

AYEYARWADDY TIMES July 17 SAC forces, who launched an offensive to retake the Phalu and Min Lat Pan areas in the southern part of Myawaddy town on the Thai-Myanmar border, were trapped in the withdrawal tactics of the allied revolutionary forces, resulting in the near annihilation of an entire column of the 556th Light Infantry Battalion under Brigade 13, according to Karen military sources. With the directive to capture the southern region of Myawaddy within four days, the SAC forces launched their offensive starting July 7, utilizing approximately 2,000 troops from the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) and DKBA, allied with the military, and personally commanded by Military Strategy Commander Col. Kyaw Htin Aye. During the battle, allied revolutionary forces led by Cobra Column Operations Commander Maj. Dar Bo strategically withdrew from the “Ye Kon” location west of Lay Kay Kaw, making the military believe they had captured the area. Subsequently, when the SAC column entered the area around noon on July 16, the allied revolutionary forces surrounded and annihilated the invading 556th Infantry Battalion column. According to ground reports, nearly the entire column of the 556th Infantry Battalion, including Deputy Battalion Commander Maj. Tin Ko, a company commander from the BGF’s Moe Thone group, and members of DKBA’s Bo Bi Khway splinter group, were killed in the battle. “The People’s Militia (PM) who came to the south still have chances for survival and life improvement. If they surrender with weapons, they will receive rewards and their lives will be guaranteed. There are also opportunities for PMs who want to revolt against the dictator. For PMs who do not want to fight, there is also the opportunity to seek refuge in a third country. To get these good opportunities, they must lay down their arms and surrender to the people’s allied revolutionary forces. I pray that they make the right decision. If not, they will continue to work for the dictator. I have to say that I like the PMs from the Dawna mountain range,” said Ye Baw Maung Mae, a member of the Cobra Column, via his social media. During the battle, four new recruits of the People's Militia, who had completed military training, were captured as prisoners of war. More than 10 firearms, one drone jammer, and a large quantity of ammunition were seized from them. After the near destruction of the entire column, the SAC forces have been continuously bombing the surrounding areas using jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft today, July 17, it has been reported. Furthermore, military sources indicate that the military, which is losing on the battlefield, is intentionally firing heavy artillery shells towards Thailand with the aim of pressuring the Thai government regarding the revolutionary forces (KNU/KNLA). On July 10, heavy artillery shells from the military landed and exploded within the compound of a Thai monastery in Mae Sot. Furthermore, military sources indicate that the military, which is losing on the battlefield, is intentionally firing heavy artillery shells towards Thailand with the aim of pressuring the Thai government regarding the KNU/KNLA and allied revolutionary forces. On July 10, heavy artillery shells from the military landed within the compound of a Thai monastery in Mae Sot. Military sources report that the SAC forces are in a difficult situation, unable to advance and suffering heavy losses this time due to the strategic interdiction attacks by the allied revolutionary forces, who have been conducting operations in the southern regions of Myawaddy since October 2025, in their attempt to regain control of the southern areas of Myawaddy. Caption: Four People's Militia members captured as prisoners of war. The post Nearly entire column of SAC forces annihilated in Myawaddy’s “Ye Kon” battle, Deputy Battalion Commander Maj. Tin Ko among many killed, 4 PDF members captured appeared first on Ayeyarwaddy Times.