Burma
Cobra Column fighters in Karen State.
Myanmar’s military regime carried out multiple heavy artillery attacks in Myawaddy Township, Karen State this week, as junta forces continued to try and advance along the strategic Myawaddy-Waw Lay Road, close to the border with Thailand.
Resistance group Cobra Column said Myanmar military troops from Division 44 had conducted multiple artillery strikes day and night since Monday.
Cobra Column, which is fighting alongside the Karen National Liberation Army, holds the Myawaddy-Waw Lay Road, control of which allows resistance forces to receive supplies from Thailand.
The group’s spokesperson told The Irrawaddy that on Wednesday alone, regime troops fired more than 20 rounds of heavy artillery in the afternoon and then another 40 rounds at night from two hills overlooking the road.
On Monday and Tuesday, junta forces fired more than a dozen 120mm shells.
“It is what they usually do before launching attacks. It is aimed at disrupting our sleep and lowering our morale. They fire rounds from at least four guns so it is really loud,” said Cobra Column’s spokesperson.
The sound of artillery firing was also clearly heard on the Thai side of the frontier.
Two Cobra Column fighters sustained minor injuries during the attacks, according to the spokesperson.
At the same time, Cobra Column discovered that regime troops have moved into three new positions in the area.
“We also learned that they have deployed some reinforcements. Heavy clashes are likely to break out in the area soon,” said Cobra Column’s representative.
Junta forces are increasingly using heavy artillery and airstrikes in an effort to crush resistance groups in Kayah, Chin, Rakhine and Kachin States and Sagaing and Magwe regions.
