TAK, May 14 – Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) fighters have overrun a Myanmar military base near the Thai border following a week-long offensive, according to a Thai military task force. The seizure marks a significant gain for the ethnic armed groups in their ongoing conflict with Myanmar’s junta forces.

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The Rajamanu Task Force confirmed that the KNLA and KNDO, both operating under the Karen National Union (KNU), took control of the base in Hpa-an, Karen State, at approximately 6:40 PM local time on Tuesday. The captured outpost lies just 7 kilometers from the Thai border, directly opposite Tha Song Yang district in Tak province.

A source from Ratchamanu Task Force in Tak province said on Tuesday evening that combined Karen forces (KNU and KNLA) have successfully taken over a Myanmar junta military outpost some 7 kilometres from the Thai border in the province's Tha Song Yang district.
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Despite sustained resistance from Myanmar military forces, including repeated airstrikes throughout the week, the Karen fighters successfully pushed through, seizing weapons and military equipment. Remaining junta troops reportedly withdrew from the base following the fall of their position.

In response to the escalating conflict near the border, Thailand’s Rajamanu Task Force, alongside Ranger Regiment 35 and Border Patrol Police Unit 34, has ramped up security operations. Additional reinforcements, including heavy weaponry, have been deployed under contingency plans to prevent any cross-border spillover. Authorities have assured heightened vigilance to safeguard Thai civilians in the area, with round-the-clock patrols in place.

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The capture of the base underscores the growing intensity of clashes in Myanmar’s border regions, where ethnic armed groups continue to challenge the military junta’s control. The Thai military remains on high alert as the situation develops, monitoring for any potential security threats along the frontier.

-Thailand News (TN)