Resistance forces fire on Karenni capital during visit by junta leader

Subscribe to the Myanmar Now daily newsletter. It's free. Sign up > Anti-regime forces in Karenni State said they fired heavy artillery at state capital Loikaw on Wednesday during a visit by regime leader Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing. According to Marwi, deputy commander of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), the group fired a total of five artillery shells at their target. “I’m confident they were threatened by our attack, because we targeted their position. But we don’t yet have details on the extent of the damage,” he said. State media reported on Thursday that the coup regime leader was in the town to meet with military officials from the Loikaw Regional Operations Command and other junta-appointed staff. After the attack, the junta responded with airstrikes and artillery fire. Air raids were also reported in the towns of Demoso and Nan Mei Khon early Thursday, but no details were available at the time of reporting. A coalition of resistance forces controlled most of Loikaw for eight months until they were forced to retreat due to a massive junta counterattack in June. Clashes continue in the surrounding area, which remains under resistance control. “Military activities are currently patchy, with attacks limited to specific areas and not yet widespread,” said Col. Phone Naing of the Karenni Army. Asked about the purpose of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit, he suggested that it might be part of his campaign to conduct a national census next month in preparation for elections planned for next year. However, KNDF deputy commander Marwi dismissed Min Aung Hlaing’s attempts to restore a sense of normalcy as futile, and said the group was prepared to respond militarily. “For three years, they’ve been shelling and bombing areas controlled by resistance forces, with no regard for the people there,” he said, adding that nothing the junta did now would have any impact on the resistance movement.

Resistance forces fire on Karenni capital during visit by junta leader

Fighting continues near Loikaw, which was controlled by anti-regime forces for eight months until June

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