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KAREN STATE – The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5 announced that over 40 junta forces were killed in battles that took place in Hpapun District, the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 5 territory, during March.
There were a total of 99 battles in the region between March 1 and 31 where 42 junta forces were killed and 55 were injured.
Among the dead were two captain ranked officers, a second lieutenant and several corporals and lance corporals.
On the other hand, KNLA Brigade 5 lost eight soldiers and 14 were injured in March.
KNLA joint forces blocked off and surrounded the junta forces in Hpapun starting March 19, causing the junta troops in the town to retreat at the end of March and the joint forces were able to capture infantry battalion 19 and ordnance corp 642.
The spokesperson for Brigade 5, Lieutenant Colonel Saw Klel Doh has said that they are still attacking the remaining strategic base and light infantry battalion 340, 341 and 343.
Battles were intense during the month of March and the junta council is reported to have carried out artillery, drone and air strikes at the local villages and civilian work sites.
“They would come every day, three or four times each day and provide support fire,” Lieutenant Colonel Saw Klel Doh explained the frequency of junta air strikes.
Those attacks of the junta council are reported to have killed eight civilians including a monk and a pregnant woman and also injured 30 civilians.
In addition, 42 homes, two barns as well as civilian properties and domesticated animals belonging to Hpapun residents were destroyed.
It is also informed that over 1,600 Hpapun residents have been displaced by the battles.