More than 500 residents from villages south of Myawaddy have fled their homes as fighting continues near Min Let Pan and Ingyin Myaing villages, according to military sources. At least 20 members of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have been captured during the clashes.
The fighting began on November 21 when military junta forces launched an attack on southern Myawaddy and clashed with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied resistance groups.
Residents from Min Let Pan, Ingyin Myaing, Yathaytgu, Lay Kay Kaw, and nearby areas fled to safer places, with some escaping across the Thai border. A volunteer helping displaced people said many others remain trapped in the forest.
“Some villagers left before the fighting started, and more fled when the shooting began. Many people reached Mae Ko Kin and Mae Sot in Thailand. But around 200 to 300 people are still stuck in the forest near the Thaungyin River,” the volunteer said.
He added that those trapped in the forest face serious shortages of food and basic supplies.
On November 21, during the clashes, DKBA troops stationed near Min Let Pan, who were providing security for Chinese-led scam operations, opened fire. This led resistance forces to overrun their position, capturing more than 20 DKBA soldiers and seizing hundreds of weapons and ammunition, according to military sources.
“First, the junta troops attacked. The DKBA group that protected the scam compounds fired their guns, then the resistance entered and captured them,” one source said.
The KNU and allied forces have not yet released official details about the operation. There are also reports that some staff working at the scam centers fled after DKBA security forces were captured, though the exact number remains unknown.
The junta forces later withdrew with casualties but remain stationed near the area. Military tensions on both sides continue to rise.
Thai media reported that mortar shells fired from the junta side landed across the Thai border during the fighting, prompting the Thai military to fire warning shots. Thailand’s Military Region 3 has since strengthened border security and is closely monitoring the situation.
