A total of 70 members of the Military Council and Karen Border Guard Forces (BGF) were killed during clashes in May in the KNU’s 1st Brigade area, Thaton District, Kayin State, according to a statement by the Karen National Union (KNU) released 2 June.

In the statement, 41 clashes were reported between the KNU’s allies namely the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) and Military Junta forces, Border Guard Forces (BGF) last month which killed 70 and injured 53 members of the Military Council and BGF.

It also stated that the five military vehicles were destroyed by the KNU’s allies during the clashes. Two members of KNU’s subordinate combat forces were killed and 11 others were wounded in the clashes, according to the statement.

A news source from the KNU told Mizzima that two aircraft carried out an airstrike on LayKay village, Bilin Township, Thaton District, KNU 1st Brigade area on 1 May. Due to the airstrike, 10 dwellings and 1 nunnery school in LayKay village were destroyed. Two villagers were killed and three injured in this attack.

After the February 2021 military coup, clashes have been happening daily in the KNU-controlled areas of 1st Brigade in Thaton District, 3rd Brigade in Nyuanglaybin District, 4th Brigade in Myeik-Dawei District, 5th Brigade in Mudaw District and 6th Brigade in Dooplaya District, according to the officials from the KNU.