According to the Karen National Union (KNU) Mutraw District, there were 93 clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5 and the military council forces in Papun District, Karen State during August. During these clashes, 9 military council soldiers were killed and 4 were injured. The fighting took place between August 1 and August 31, with some KNLA Brigade 5 members also sustaining injuries during the encounters.
The clashes resulted in the destruction of one military council building. The military council forces conducted two artillery attacks targeting civilians and carried out three airstrikes. Their indiscriminate machine gun fire resulted in the death of one civilian, according to the KNU-Mutraw District’s statement. The ongoing conflicts in Papun District are a result of offensive operations by the military council forces, who have been targeting civilian homes and agricultural lands.
Local residents have been forced to flee their homes due to the military council’s airstrikes, facing food shortages and health challenges in their displacement. The military council’s continued attacks have severely impacted civilian life in the region, with local communities struggling to maintain their safety and livelihoods amid the ongoing conflict. The situation highlights the military council’s aggressive actions against civilian populations and the resistance forces defending local communities.
