Heavy clashes have erupted in recent days along section 8 of Kalain Aung and Malwe Taung Union Highway in Ye Township after the military council’s forces launched offensives using heavy artillery, drones, and ground troops.
Troops from Military Operations Command Headquarters No. 19 in Ye, including Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 408, 409, and 410, as well as LIB 273 from Kanbauk and LIB 282 near Kawhline village in Ye, have mobilized into four separate columns attacking villages along the Kalain Aung–Malwe Taung route.
These military columns have been met with strong resistance from local joint forces of Mon, Karen, Dawei, and Dawna groups, escalating the intensity of the fighting.
“The military council previously announced its operations would cover 63 townships, but Ye wasn’t on the list. That announcement was just for show. They said one thing and did another. Our forces assumed they wouldn’t attack here, but unexpectedly, they launched a major offensive,” said a resistance fighter involved in the Ye battles.
Due to these attacks, more than 15 clashes occurred in Ye Township in August, with at least four battle sites reported daily.
Since late 2023, local resistance forces have taken control of around 80% of the Ye–Dawei Section 8 Union Highway. Analysts believe the recent offensives aim to reclaim control of the Kalain Aung–Malwe Taung stretch—previously dominated by resistance groups. This development is similar to the strategic push along the Kawkareik–Kyone Doe road, that also serves to protect the military council’s economic interests in the region.
“This area is almost completely under resistance control, so the military uses force to regain it. Another reason is to safeguard their economic routes—protecting the Thiki border, securing the Kanbauk natural gas pipeline, and preventing resistance forces from establishing positions near the Dawei deep-sea port,” said an officer from the joint Mon–Karen–Dawei forces.
Resistance groups have been conducting frequent ambush patrols and setting up checkpoints near town entrances along the Union Highway, making it difficult for military troops to move freely. This has forced the military to rely heavily on waterways for reinforcement in the Tanintharyi region, creating logistical challenges.
A commander from Kanbauk People’s Defense Force Column 4, Aung Pan, said the offensives are also linked to ensuring security for the upcoming elections.
“Right now, fighting is nonstop between Kalain Aung and Malwe Taung. We’ve held this section for a long time, but with the election approaching, they’re trying to retake control,” Aung Pan said.
Observers note that the military council aims to fully secure the Kalain Aung–Malwe Taung section and the entire Union Highway to stage its sham elections while protecting its economic assets by intensifying clearance operations in the area.
