A senior official from Strategic Command 11 of the Karenni region has confirmed that 20 military soldiers were killed during intense fighting with resistance forces near Ngwe Taung Dam in Demoso Township, Karenni State. The battles took place on August 8 and 9, when resistance forces engaged with approximately 300 military troops who had launched an offensive from the direction of Ngwe Taung Dam. The resistance forces successfully conducted blocking operations against the military column for two consecutive days.
During the clashes, 20 military soldiers were killed and more than 20 others were wounded, while one KNDF fighter was also killed in action. The military retrieved the bodies of their fallen soldiers after the battles. The military divided their forces into three columns, with approximately 100 troops in each column. According to the official, their strategy involved initially advancing with smaller numbers before establishing positions through accessible areas, followed by deploying larger forces through these entry points.
The military forces did not retreat during the engagement and continued their offensive using various weapons including heavy artillery, drone strikes, tank fire, and howitzers. The military column began its advance from Ngwe Taung Dam area on August 3 and has been conducting daily artillery strikes on civilian villages in the region. These attacks have forced thousands of local residents to flee to safer areas. The official from Strategic Command 11 of the Karenni region warned that the fighting could intensify further in the coming days, as the military continues to target civilian areas and prepare for expanded operations in the region.
