The southeastern commander of Myanmar’s junta has survived an ambush by a Karen rebel group during his trip to Myawaddy Township, Karen State, on Friday, according to the Karen media.
At 9am on Friday, a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) led by Brigadier General Saw Kyaw Thet ambushed a military convoy carrying Brigadier General Ko Ko Maung near the Kyaik Don junction on the Kawkareik-Myawaddy highway.
An officer from the junta-allied Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) told The Irrawaddy that the ambush targeted the commander.
Four junta soldiers were reportedly killed and three others, including a major, were wounded, according to the Karen media.
However, the BGF officer denied there were any military deaths only injuries and the commander arrived safely in Myawaddy, he said.
After the ambush, junta forces used artillery against nearby villages and some houses were damaged, the media reported.
The DKBA splinter group was unavailable for comment.
On Thursday evening, a junta office was bombed in Bayintnaung ward, Pobbathiri Township, Naypyitaw.
A military vehicle and the office were damaged but no casualties were reported.
On Friday, Naypyitaw People’s Defense Force claimed responsibility for the bombing attack.
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