KARENNI STATE – Locals reported that the junta council shelled the surroundings of Loikaw City on November 11, the first anniversary of Operation 1111 by the Karenni Coalition.
Junta scout planes were also flying over Pekhon, Mobye and Loikaw and the junta regime carried out 11 airstrikes in Hpasaung Township.
“The scout planes were hovering over Pekhon and Loikaw since the morning. Then heavy weapons were fired into the surroundings of Loikaw around starting 4 p.m. There was no battle. It was just reckless shelling,” said a Karenni military source.
A member of Bawlakhae District PDF informed that the junta council also bombed Hpasaung Township, under majority control of revolutionary forces except for two junta bases, on November 11 morning.
“They were probably scared and used airstrikes as a threat since today (November 11) is the date of the operation. There were no particular damages,” said the PDF soldier.
On November 11, 2023, Karenni Coalition forces launched Operation 1111 and attacked the junta bases in the region. The coalition forces also attacked Loikaw during the operation, even successfully maintaing control of most parts of the city for several months.
During the operation, a total of 65 junta bases: 12 in Loikaw, 13 in Demoso, 1 in Hpruso, 5 in Bawlakhae, 9 in Hpasaung, 7 in Shartaw, 17 in Pekhon and 1 in Maesae, were captured and 16 bases were abandoned or surrendered.
However, the Karenni Coalition had to retreat from Loikaw as they were unable to capture the main bases of the junta council while the number of junta airstrikes multiplied and heavy junta reinforcements arrived.
On the other hand, data indicates that Mobye, Shartaw, Ywathit, Maesae, Mochi, Hpasaung, Demoso and Nanmaekhon are still under control of the Karenni Coalition.
