Fighting between Burmese junta and rebels intensifies near Thai border

April 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Clashes between the Burmese military junta and the rebels have intensified this Wednesday after the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) carried out their offensive against the Armed Forces to take control from the border town of Myawaddy.

The rebels, who have inflicted heavy losses on the junta in recent months, are seeking to inflict a heavy blow on Burmese troops after Thai authorities confirmed on Monday that Burmese military personnel were fleeing across the border. due to the insurgent offensive.

However, the military has launched a series of operations to counter the rebel attacks, especially with the aim of hitting KNLA troops.

These clashes have caused damage to dozens of homes in the aforementioned town, which is considered one of the main commercial routes on the border between Burma and Thailand, according to information from the Irrawaddy news portal. After a week of clashes in the area, some 600 soldiers and their families surrendered to the KNLA on Friday. Subsequently, the rebels managed to surround the area and take over seven military bases in the vicinity.

In response to the advances of the insurgent forces, the Thai authorities have assured that they are willing to accept the arrival of some 100,000 refugees from the neighboring country, although the bridges that cross the river on the border are now under KNLA control. .

The PDF reported last Thursday that they had attacked the airport and military headquarters in the capital, Naypyidaw, with drones. The junta has confirmed this attack, but has assured that it was able to destroy all the devices. This incident adds to the advances of the rebels, who in recent months have achieved important victories against military forces on the border with China, in Shan State, and also in Rakhine State, bordering Bangladesh.