Military junta reinforcing with thousands of troops to retake Hpa-apun

YT (July 25) Mizzima. The military junta is reinforcing its forces with thousands of troops to maintain the Hpa-apun strategic base, which is under siege and attack by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) allied forces, and to regain control of the abandoned Hpa-apun city. The military forces, numbering in the thousands, have arrived in Myainggyinu and are preparing their provisions and weapons to advance towards Hpa-apun via Kama Maung. "So far, there has been no further advance. They are still in Myainggyinu. They haven't even reached Kama Maung yet. They are trying to fill up the numbers to around 2,000 troops," a military source said. The military junta has frequently sent reinforcements and launched offensives towards Hpa-apun, where the military situation is tense. In early June, a column that advanced along the Hpa-apun-Kama Maung road via Kama Maung is currently located near the pagoda hill below Phalonglay village, north of Katayti. Battles are occurring almost daily between the military junta and the KNLA allied forces around the pagoda hill, and air strikes by the military junta are still ongoing as of today (July 25). "They dropped bombs again today, not towards Hpa-apun, but towards Nankut," a local source said. Furthermore, it is reported that heavy artillery support is continuously being provided from the Katayti strategic base, which has been reoccupied by the military junta, and the Kama Maung strategic base in Kama Maung city. The Hpa-apun strategic base, which is surrounded by KNLA allied forces, is adjacent to Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 340 and 341, and Military Hospital (MH) No. 21, and is the largest military contingent in Hpa-apun. These troops were left behind during the 2024 Hpa-apun city capture operation, with their ground routes blocked by KNLA allied forces. In terms of Hpa-apun Township, there are two towns within the township: Hpa-apun city and Kama Maung sub-township. Hpa-apun city was captured by the combined forces of KNU, KNLA, and PDF in late March 2024, while in Kama Maung city, military junta troops, BGF, and DKBA troops are moving and stationed. During the city capture operation, KNLA allied forces captured not only Hpa-apun city but also more than five military outposts along the Hpa-apun-Kama Maung road, as well as IB No. 19, IB No. 434, and Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 642 under the Southeastern Military Command within Hpa-apun Township. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin)