The Battalion Commander of the junta’s Infantry Battalion (IB) 103 and 47 other soldiers surrendered to the Karen National Union’s (KNU’s) Brigade 4 in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region, on 15 April.
When the troops surrendered, they had been on the way from their base on the border with Thailand in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region to the Hteehta Tactical Hill Camp, also in Myeik Township.
KNU Brigade 4 attacked the junta troops in the area of Hteetha and Mawhta villages in Myeik Township. After suffering casualties in the attack, the remaining junta soldiers surrendered, according to the KNU.
The KNU said that it is holding the captured junta soldiers in accordance with the Myanmar Prisons Act. A KNU spokesperson, Padoh Saw Taw Nee said that none of the captured soldiers would be returned to the junta without their consent.
Previously, at the beginning of April, a junta commander along with 600 soldiers and their family members surrendered to the KNU.
Mandalay PDF captures junta camp in Nawnghkio Township, Shan State Besides, the Mandalay People’s Defence Force (PDF) said that it captured the junta military camp in Thayetkone Village, Nawnghkio Township, Shan State and seized a cache of arms, on 15 April 2024.
Mandalay PDF, operating under the National Unity Government (NUG) attacked the camp at 5:30 am on 15 April and took control of it at 4:45 pm on the same day.
When they took over the camp Mandalay PDF also seized 40 assorted small arms, two 60 mm mortars, a drone jammer and a substantial quantity of ammunition.
The junta had sent two columns of soldiers to reinforce the camp, but they were intercepted by Mandalay PDF on their way to the camp and had to retreat after suffering many casualties.
21 junta soldiers were killed in the fighting and there were some deaths and casualties amongst the PDF fighters, according to Mandalay PDF. Earlier, on the night of 14 April, Mandalay PDF fired improvised rockets at junta targets, including the Defence Services Academy, in Pyin Oo Lwin Town, Mandalay Region.