Revolutionary forces successfully captured the military council’s Ukayittha camp located in the Thai-Myanmar border area of Myawaddy Township, Karen State, on July 12. The operation involved a joint effort by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), People’s Defense Force (PDF) Strategy 32, VENOM Column, and Cobra Column 1, Division 2 (PKYY). According to an announcement by Cobra Column 1, Division 2, the forces seized a significant amount of weapons and ammunition during the operation, including 60mm heavy weapons.
The Ukayittha camp had previously withstood an initial assault by KNLA-led revolutionary forces approximately three years ago, when the attack proved unsuccessful. Following that failed attempt, the military council had used the camp as a propaganda tool, producing a military documentary about it under the name ‘Living Fence.’ In the recent successful operation, one military council soldier was killed, another was captured alive, and nearly one hundred military council personnel fled across the border into Thailand.
The Karen National Union (KNU) is working to establish control over the entire Thai-Myanmar border region, with only two military council camps remaining to be captured: the Wawlay Strategic Hill and Thi Thel Lay military camp. Between March and July, the KNU has successfully captured numerous military council camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, including Pulutoo, Khlay Day, Thaw Bi Kwee, Maw Phar Thu Camp, Ta Lay Camp, Mae La, Black Do, Maw Khi, Bogyoke Aung Camp, Kanae Lay Camp, Shwe Aye Myaing Military Camp, Thay Baw Boe Camp, Htee Ka Play Camp, and most recently, the Ukayittha Camp.
