Revolutionary forces led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have engaged in intense fighting with the military council’s Aung Zeya column that departed from Kawkareik city in an attempt to regain control of the Asia Highway leading to Myawaddy. According to revolutionary military sources, more than 40 military council troops have been killed, forcing them to retreat multiple times. The battles, which took place between August 2 and August 20, saw the revolutionary forces successfully repelling military council advances along the Asia Highway from Kawkareik. In addition to the more than 40 fatalities, over 40 military council troops were wounded in the fighting. Sources also confirmed that several military council soldiers have defected and sought refuge with KNLA forces, who have taken them into protective custody.
Despite the military council’s use of airstrikes and heavy artillery bombardment, they have failed to achieve their objectives. The revolutionary forces report that the military council’s attempts to advance have been consistently thwarted, resulting in multiple retreats – at least five times according to military sources. The situation along the Asia Highway has become particularly intense due to the military council’s extensive use of aerial bombardment and artillery fire. The military council’s strategy involves conducting airstrikes and drone surveillance before attempting ground advances, but revolutionary forces have successfully countered these tactics.
The military council’s efforts to reach Myawaddy and secure control of the Asia Highway have involved significant aerial operations, drone strikes, and large-scale ground forces. However, they have only managed to reach Htatan village thus far, suffering heavy casualties due to the resistance forces’ effective defensive operations. The military council is attempting to advance toward Myawaddy using both old and new routes, but they face particularly strong resistance along the Asia Highway. Military sources indicate that the military council is expected to launch more intensive operations in the coming days, with daily air raids occurring in various locations along the route. Despite their deployment of substantial forces and various military assets, the military council’s advances continue to be effectively contained by the revolutionary forces’ defensive operations.
