Myanmar junta continues airstrikes on southern Myawaddy amid intense clashes

Military junta forces are launching daily airstrikes alongside ground offensives in southern Myawaddy Township on the Thai-Myanmar border, where intense clashes continue, according to local sources. Fierce battles have raged for 20 days since the night of 7 July between Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) joint forces and junta troops, as the junta advances in at least three columns toward Phalu, Min Let Pan, and the Lay Kay Kaw new town area in southern Myawaddy. “Despite using excessive ground and air power during multiple ground clashes, the coup military is suffering heavy casualties. Our revolutionary forces continue to launch fierce counter-attacks daily to degrade the enemy’s offensive capabilities,” the Black Panther Column, under Tactical Command (32), said in a statement released 26 July. “Today’s battle is highly intense and fierce. Heavy weapons are heavily deployed. Junta aircraft — both Y-12 transport planes and jet fighters — arrive daily. They launched airstrikes yesterday, and bombed the Waw Lay area the day before,” a ground military source said. “Yesterday, junta troops reached Bo San Aung’s new Chinese site near Phalu,” the source added, referring to a new site located deep in the valley. Sustaining heavy casualties on the ground, junta forces are heavily relying on air support, even bombing the Waw Lay area where no active clashes are taking place. Six junta soldiers have surrendered, according to a statement by the Black Panther Column under Tactical Command (32). The junta has been launching offensives since late last year to reclaim border outposts lost to the KNLA joint forces and to regain full control over the Thai-Myanmar border. However, it has failed to secure territorial control due to blockades and counter-attacks by the KNLA-led joint forces.