KAREN STATE – Colonel Saw Klel Doh, the spokesperson for Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 5 said that KNU Brigade 5 and joint forces are still blocking the junta strategy and two battalions remaining in Hpapun to completely capture the town.
He added that due to those junta bases being blocked off on the land, the junta council can only deliver rations and ammunition from the air.
KNU Brigade 5 and joint forces launched an offensive on junta bases in Hpapun stating last March and managed to drive away the junta forces from their outposts in the town. After that, KNU was able to seize control of the town.
The junta council has a military strategy base and five infantry and light infantry battalions stationed in Hpapun, located outside the town. KNU and joint forces managed to capture three infantry bases during their offensive and now only the strategy base and two light infantry bases remain.
While KNU has cut off the junta strategy base and light infantry battalion 340 and 341 in Hpapun, the junta council has carried out air strikes.
“They carried out quite a lot of (aerial) attacks recently,” said Colonel Saw Klel Doh.
Due to the intercepting attacks and routes being cut off in Hpapun, KNU Brigade 5 territory, the junta council had to let go of a considerable number of outposts in the region in recent months, in particular the outposts along the Salween River at the Thai-Myanmar border.
