Fighting between resistance forces in Kayah State and Myanmar’s regime forces has left an estimated 19 junta troops dead in Hpruso, Demoso, Bawlakhe and Shadaw townships, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).
KNDF Battalion 15 stated on Sunday that it killed about four regime soldiers and took their weapons in Hpruso.
Around 30 regime troops from the military training school in Hpruso clashed with the KNDF and Karenni Army (KA) and one regime soldier was killed on August 10.
Three more troops were killed and weapons seized when approximately 150 Light Infantry Battalion 531 soldiers clashed with resistance forces in eastern Hpruso.
The KNDF said there were no resistance casualties.
On August 9, approximately 200 regime troops attacked resistance forces in Hpruso and one Loikaw People’s Defense Force (PDF) member reportedly died.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
From August 7 to 13 in Shadaw four clashes were reported between the KNDF and KA and regime troops, with around eight junta deaths.
Approximately six regime troops were killed from August 9 to 11 in Demoso Township.
Heavy fighting was also reported in Demoso Township on Monday.
“I heard heavy shelling and many gunshots on Sunday and Monday,” said a Demoso resident.
On August 11, KNDF and KA attacked regime forces camp at Chaungku bridge in Bawlakhe Township and said they killed one soldier.
More than 1,000 regime troops from Light Infantry Divisions 66 and 16 clashed with resistance fighters.
A Moebye PDF spokesman told The Irrawaddy that he thought the regime was trying to control western Demoso to reinforce Bawlakhe Township and take control of the Thai border to block resistance food and weapon supplies.
The fighting and shelling are intense in Demoso Township, he said.
A 70-year-old was killed and two others wounded on August 8 in three regime airstrikes on residential areas of Loikaw.
Jets attacked Dawpapar village near Loilin Lay, a town in Loikaw District, said the KNDF.
A Free Burma Rangers member uploaded a video to social media of children hiding in a bomb shelter, reciting phrases from the Bible, on August 8 in Dawpapar.
A majority of Kayah State’s 200,000 residents have been displaced, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group.
