Eight junta troops died and four others were injured in clashes with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Hpa-an, Karen State, on Monday, according to the Karen National Union (KNU).
The combined forces of Myanmar’s military and Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) clashed with Brigade 1 of the KNLA, the armed wing of the KNU, in four locations on Monday in Hpa-an.
Brigade 1 is active in Hpa-an, Kyaikto, Thaton and Bilin townships. Clashes erupted near four villages in Hpa-an because junta troops and the BGF entered the area without prior notice, said a Brigade 1 officer.
“There was an encounter as they didn’t notify us about their movements. Their troops were deployed on roads near Mee Pon and Lel Taw Gyi villages. We only came across them as we passed,” he said.
Each skirmish only lasted a few minutes and KNLA troops retreated. Eight junta troops died and four others were injured while the KNLA suffered no casualties, said the officer. The military was unavailable for comment.
There have now been 10 clashes between Brigade 1 and Myanmar’s military since the February coup, according to the brigade.
Junta reinforcements have since arrived.
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