Myanmar’s junta launched counter attacks against resistance forces in Launglon Township, Tanintharyi Region, on Wednesday, displacing thousands of people, according to anti-regime groups based in the area.
Using ground, naval, and air assaults, the regime targeted the pagoda hilltop base of Hpa Yar Kone, situated in the village of Kyauk Ni Maw, about 38 miles south of the city of Dawei.
This strategic location has often been the site of clashes between resistance forces and the junta due to its elevated position and tactical importance. The latest fighting began on Monday, and resistance groups operating in the area reported that the junta moved quickly to deploy reinforcements to Kyauk Ni Maw using naval vessels.
“Three naval vessels launched attacks. Airstrikes began yesterday, and on the first day, reconnaissance aircraft were seen overhead,” a member of a Launglon-based resistance force told Myanmar Now on Wednesday.
More than 8,000 residents from Kyauk Ni Maw and surrounding villages have fled the recent fighting, according to a local resistance administrator.
“Some have fled to the forests, while those from coastal villages have escaped by boat to nearby areas,” the administrator said. “They are seeking safer locations.”
It could not be confirmed if there have been any civilian casualties since the clashes began.
The Launglon resistance issued an emergency warning on Monday, urging the public to seek safety and to use bomb shelters when possible due to the potential of further airstrikes across the township.
A local resistance fighter reported that junta positions in the area are frequently targeted, but this marks the first time severe clashes have lasted several days.
In November, the junta launched major offensives in Tanintharyi, Palaw, and Yebyu townships in an effort to reclaim control over the region.
Tanintharyi Region has experienced significant displacement due to ongoing conflict since the 2021 coup. The local research group, FE5 Tanintharyi, reports that at least 68,000 people have been displaced in the region since the coup. At the same time, local human rights groups have documented a range of abuses taking place throughout Tanintharyi in recent weeks, including artillery shelling, airstrikes, arson, and ground attacks targeting civilians.
