Siege of Myawaddy

Last updated
Siege of Myawaddy
Part of Myanmar civil war (2021–present)
Civilians fleeing to Thailand during the siege of Myawaddy.png
Civilians fleeing to Thailand during the siege of Myawaddy
Date6 April 2024 – 24 April 2024
Location
Myawaddy Township
16°41′09″N98°30′24″E / 16.6857°N 98.5067°E / 16.6857; 98.5067
Result

SAC and allies victory

Belligerents

Flag of the Karen National Union.svg Karen National Union

Flag of PDF Myanmar.svg People's Defence Force
Flag of DKBA.svg Democratic Karen Buddhist Army [3]
KNU/KNLA Peace Council [3]

Flag of Myanmar.svg State Administration Council

Commanders and leaders
Unknown

Flag of Myanmar.svg Soe Win

Strength
Unknown ~200
Casualties and losses
Unknown 600+ surrendered (Including family members of the soldiers)

The Siege of Myawaddy was a significant military engagement that occurred in early 2024, during the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. The siege took place in the town of Myawaddy, located on the eastern border with Thailand.

Contents

Background

Myawaddy serves as a vital border town for overland trade between Myanmar and Thailand. The military junta, which seized power in Myanmar in 2021, faced escalating attacks by ethnic Karen insurgents, supported by other anti-coup factions. The Karen National Union (KNU), in particular, had been engaged in a struggle for self-rule since Myanmar's independence in 1948.[ citation needed ] [6]

Events

Initial Capture

Since December 2023 Karen forces have targeted junta forces in Kawkareik as well as the Hpa-An–Myawaddy road, which is part of the Asian Highway 1. [7]

The siege began with weeks of sustained attacks by ethnic Karen insurgents on military positions in and around Myawaddy. After a prolonged siege and several days of negotiations, on 5 April over 600 junta soldiers stationed in Myawaddy agreed to surrender to the KNU and withdrew across the border to Mae Sot/ [8] leaving only the 275th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB), positioned near the town's western entrance, to defend the town. On 7 April, junta officials fled into Thailand. [9] The junta requested Thailand for a military flight from Mae Sot to evacuate certain officials and others awaiting refuge on the border. [10]

KNLA and PDF troops were seen at the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge border crossing in northeastern Myawaddy on the morning of the 9 April. [9] Later that afternoon, the KNLA and PDF launched a heavy assault on the LIB 275th base. [11] Fighting ended late the next day, when the KNLA and PDF captured the LIB 275th base. Over 200 junta soldiers withdrew to another bridge on the border. In response, Thailand deployed the 3rd Army along the border. [12] The junta began sending reinforcements in a counteroffensive to retake the town, but were stalled in Kyondoe. [13] [14] On 12 April, Thai officials and the KNU spokesperson confirmed the capture of Myawaddy. The junta retaliated with airstrikes despite locals stating that the KNLA were not in the streets of the town. [15]

Aftermath

Despite the KNLA's major role in capturing Myawaddy, the KNLA and PDF groups ceded the city's control to the Karen National Army (KNA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA-5) to ensure security within the city. [3] According to the KNU/KNLA-PC, the KNA is playing a major role in negotiations between the KNU and the junta regarding Myawaddy. [16]

Operation "Aung Zeya"

After Myawaddy's capture, the Light Infantry Division (LID) 55, numbering around 1,000 and reportedly led by the junta second-in-command Soe Win, began attempting to cross the Dawna Range to recapture the town in a counteroffensive known as "Operation Aung Zeya". [17] The LID 55 was continually intercepted by the KNLA and allies, being forced to retreat and reportedly experiencing heavy losses. [18] On 19 April, the MNLA-AMD began launching attacks on a junta convoy in Kyaikmaraw Township heading towards Myawaddy to recapture the city from anti-junta forces. [19] Late on 19 April, the KNLA began launching attacks on the remaining 150 junta soldiers from the LIB 275th which retreated under the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on 10 April, the last junta hold-out in the town. The junta responded with airstrikes. [20]

Early in the counteroffensive, KNLA forces withdrew from Kawkareik. [21] On 21 April, a junta convoy was ambushed and routed in Kawkareik Township, allowing the KNLA to capture several military vehicles. [22] Despite this, Kawkareik town was entirely recaptured from Karen forces the next day. [23]

The conflict escalated on 20 April, when the military reportedly used artillery, fighter jets, and helicopter gunships to attack KNLA positions, and resistance forces used 40mm machine guns and dropped 20 bombs from drones, prompting hundreds of people to flee across the Moei River. A stray bullet from the fighting hit a house on the Thai side of the border. [24]

On 23 April, junta forces from the LIB 275th, which had been sheltering under the 2nd Friendship Bridge, were assisted by the Karen National Army in reoccupying their base outside Myawaddy. [25] On 24 April, the Karen rebels retreated from Myawaddy, and the Karen National Army and the Tatmadaw achieved joint control of Myawaddy City. [26] The KNU spokesmen stated that they would "temporarily withdraw" from Myawaddy, but stated that the KNLA would continue guerrilla attacks on junta positions along the AH1. [27]

After being trapped in Kawkareik Township for several weeks due to resistance ambushes and attacks, the 1,000 men LID 55 reinforcements sent by the junta to aid forces in Myawaddy in Operation Aung Zeya began advancing through the Dawna Range, reaching the Taw Naw waterfall by 29 April. [28] After reaching the waterfall, the offensive again stalled, not making any major gains the following month. Residents of Myawaddy reported that the Karen National Army was aiding junta soldiers in Operation Aung Zeya by helping them through forested paths leading to the town, with "hundreds" of junta soldiers being stationed in the town by the end of May. [29]

Role of BGF

Multiple sources and analysts showed the Border Guard Forces (BGF) army took control of Myawaddy after the junta's remaining troops from the 275th LIB retreated, and later facilitated the transfer of junta troops from their base to the 2nd Friendship Bridge. Jason Tower, the Myanmar director of the United States Institute of Peace, said BGF had been playing both sides and that it ultimately pivoted to assist the military regime, "leading to the photo op of the Myanmar flag once again being raised over the base". [30]

Impact

Trade through Myawaddy had already been declining due to clashes in neighboring areas. Official figures from the Myanmar junta's Ministry of Commerce showed a significant drop in trade value between April 2023 and February 2024. The ongoing conflict between the military and anti-regime forces further exacerbated the decline in trade, affecting both legal and unofficial border trade routes. [31]

Reactions

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation and "will continue to provide further humanitarian assistance if necessary and will do our utmost to ensure the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border area returns to normalcy". [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Suffering Heavy Losses in Large Counteroffensive to Retake Myawaddy: KNU". The Irrawaddy. 23 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Ethnic Karen guerrillas in Myanmar leave a town that army lost 2 weeks ago as rival group holds sway". ABC News. 24 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "As Myanmar Junta Counteroffensive Looms, KNU Leaves Myawaddy in Hands of Allies". The Irrawaddy . 19 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Karen BGF to rename itself 'Karen National Army'". Myanmar Now. 6 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Caleb Quinley; Khun Kali (2024-05-01). "A sanctioned strongman and the 'fall' of Myanmar's Myawaddy". Al Jazeera .
  6. ↑ "Myanmar country profile BBC".
  7. ↑ Junta Uses Drone Bombs to Hang-onto strategic Kawkareik Township Already 60% in the hands of KNU Resistance, Archived March 7, 2024, at the Wayback Machine 29 February 2024
  8. ↑ "Myanmar military loses border town in another big defeat". BBC News. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Karen Ethnic Army Launches Final Push to Capture Myawaddy on Thai Border". The Irrawaddy. 9 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Myanmar Army in Myawaddy Asks Thailand to Shelter its Officials". Khaosod . 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Myanmar Military Battling to Prevent Complete Defeat in Town Near Thai Border". The Irrawaddy. 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Troops Withdraw From Myawaddy Following Clashes". The Irrawaddy. 11 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Spotlight on Thailand as Cornered Myanmar Junta Threatens Disaster on Border". The Irrawaddy. 11 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "KNLA and Allied Forces Complete Epic Victory over all Junta". Than Lwin Times. 11 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Myanmar troops withdraw from Myawaddy border hub, KNU ethnic rebels say". Mizzima. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Myanmar's ethnic Karen guerrillas claim to have seized the last army base defending key border town". AP News. 11 April 2024.
  17. ↑ "Ethnic army intercepts junta convoy on Thai-Myanmar border". Radio Free Asia. 18 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "KNLA and allies repel Myanmar junta troops trying to reach Myawaddy". Myanmar Now. 16 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Resistance: Myanmar Junta Convoy Trapped in Mon State". The Irrawaddy. 19 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Target Myawaddy After Clashes Resume". The Irrawaddy. 20 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Suffering Heavy Losses in Large Counteroffensive to Retake Myawaddy: KNU". The Irrawaddy. 23 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Suffers Further Losses in Three Days of Resistance Attacks". The Irrawaddy. 22 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Hails Gains Near Thai Border". The Irrawaddy. 29 April 2024.
  24. 1 2 Sebastian Strangio (2024-04-22). "Thousands of Refugees Flee Fighting in Southeastern Myanmar". The Diplomat .
  25. ↑ "Myanmar junta says troops back in border trade hub". AFP - 24 News. 23 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Myanmar rebel group withdraws from Thai border after army returns". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  27. ↑ "Ethnic Karen guerrillas in Myanmar leave a town that army lost 2 weeks ago as rival group holds sway". ABC News. 24 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "Myanmar Junta Reinforcements Heading for Myawaddy Reach Dawna Mountains". The Irrawaddy. 29 April 2024.
  29. ↑ "Karen Forces Clash With Myanmar Military Along Strategic Highway to Myawaddy". The Irrawaddy. 28 May 2024.
  30. ↑ Caleb Quinley; Khun Kali (2024-05-01). "A sanctioned strongman and the 'fall' of Myanmar's Myawaddy". Al Jazeera .
  31. ↑ "Trade through Myawaddy plummets amid fighting near Thai-Myanmar border" - Myanmar Now Archived 2024-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
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