Military junta troops have been advancing along the Abit–Kale Tagundaing road, which connects Mudon and Kyainseikgyi townships on the border of Mon and Karen states, according to local sources.
As the troops moved in, artillery fire was reportedly launched from the junta’s Zeehpyukone base in Tagundaing village around noon today, with shells landing near nearby villages and injuring two civilians.
“It’s true that the junta troops are advancing from the Abit side toward Pulein and Tagundaing. If they continue pushing toward Tagundaing, fighting will likely break out. This afternoon, shells were fired from the Zeehpyukone base toward nearby villages — one shell hit a house in Kular village and injured two civilians,” a local resistance source said.
The exact strength of the junta column remains unknown. Locals have been urged to stay alert for possible clashes as tensions rise in the area.
Residents believe the junta’s movement aims to retake control of the Abit–Tagundaing–Taungkalay road, a key route linking Mudon and Kyainseikgyi townships that has come under resistance.
“There are two junta bases near Abit and Tagundaing, but the surrounding villages are mostly controlled by Karen resistance forces. Until recently, Karen troops were seen patrolling by car, but today, there’s no movement, it’s unusually quiet,” a local resident said.
In mid-July 2023, fierce fighting broke out near Kale and Tagundaing villages when junta troops advancing from Abit clashed with joint resistance forces. During that battle, artillery fire from the junta’s 318th Artillery Battalion forced thousands of residents from Pulein, Kale, Tagundaing, and Nanthainghtun villages to flee their homes for nearly a month.
