The junta army and air force have been carrying out heavy ground and air offensives in the Thone Htet Gwe area on Myawaddy to Waw Lay Road in Kayin State's Myawaddy District.

The area where the fighting has been taking place is under the control of Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 6.

Between 7 July and 23 August junta forces have carried out 16 attacks in the area, but have so far not been able to gain any control of the area, according to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)

The latest attack was on 23 August. Myo Thura Ko Ko, an information officer from KNLA (Cobra Column) said: "The fighting started at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. this morning. Their aircraft are bombing us, they just flew over my head", over the phone to Mizzima, before being suddenly cut off.

When Mizzima later established contact with the defence forces we were informed that three junta soldiers had been killed and many others had been injured, while one fighter from KNLA (Cobra Column) had been killed and three of his comrades had suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The junta troops retreated on the same evening, 23 August.

Apparently, the junta desperately wants to take control of the Myawaddy to Waw Lay Road because it is of strategic importance because whoever controls it can control the surrounding areas meaning that if the junta can control the road it would be easier for them to defeat the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) and KNLA forces in the area.