After the junta army entered a village in a Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 6-controlled area of Karen State’s Myawaddy Township fighting broke out between them and the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) Cobra Column and other defence forces.

Junta soldiers started attacking Thae Baw Boe Village in the southern part of Myawaddy township at around 3:30 p.m. on 14 November. The village was being defended by a combined defence force that pushed back against the attack.

The fighting lasted for three hours before the junta troops, from Division 44 and Tactical Batallion 441, were forced to retreat after suffering heavy casualties when fighters from the Cobra Column, the Black Panther Column, the Federal Wings Drone Team, and the Yaung Ni Drone Force defended the village, according to a report by the KNLA Cobra Column.

The junta’s Tactical Battalion 441, Artillery unit 402, and Drone Battalion 608 based near the three-snake pagoda also fired 120 mm and 122 mm howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) missiles into the village, according to the report.

It also said that four junta soldiers, including a captain, were killed and at least 10 other junta soldiers were seriously injured.

The defence forces managed to seize 370 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, eight 40mm mortar rounds, three rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), one grenade, two landmines, one military map and other military equipment from the junta troops.

On 15 November at 11:15 a.m. there was also fighting in Myawaddy Township’s Nyaung Chaung Village. It lasted for about half an hour and there were no casualties on either side, according to locals.

The junta army has been launching offensives using airstrikes and heavy artillery to try to take control of the Myawaddy to Walle road and the surrounding area, but so far they have not succeeded as the road is well defended