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Battle of Kawkareik
The Battle of Kawkareik or siege of Kawkareik occurred in late October 2022 when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) escalated fighting in southeastern Myanmar and besieged the district-level capital town of Kawkareik. At the time, it appeared to be a significant first seizure of a major town by anti-junta forces since the renewed civil war.
Fighting broke out on 21 October with a series of surprise attacks on the Asia Highway leading into Kawkareik and at government offices within the town. Ultimately, the resistance forces were unable to take the urban areas due to the junta's air and artillery strikes. Heavy artillery shelling and air strikes from the junta targeted the military garrison base in Ward 2, while the rebel forces engaged in a battle near the General Administration Department office in Ward 7. According to the KNLA, their objective was to draw junta reinforcements away from surrounding positions and was never to take the town.
In 2021, the State Administration Council junta seized power in the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, sparking a civil war between the ousted National Unity Government (NUG) and renewing the long-standing Karen conflict. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), launched attacks in Myawaddy District and in Lay Kay Kaw as early as April 2021.
In August 2022, the KNLA led attacks on the Kawkareik District police station and the General Administration Department office in Kawkareik.
The siege of Kawkareik began after a call to action from the NUG in mid October. The NUG's local People's Defence Forces (PDFs) worked with Karen rebel forces in the battle.
The battle itself was instigated by Boh (Lieutenant) L Say Warr, who serves the Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA), a group established in July 2022. He previously served in the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), the KNU's first armed wing.
Around 7 a.m. on 21 October 2022, Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA) forces launched a surprise attack in Kawkareik Township, targeting police offices, toll gates and administrative offices of the junta. The junta's Light Infantry Battalion 97 responded with mortar shells, killing one and injuring two civilians. Eyewitnesses reported Myanmar Air Force aircraft flying over and bombing the Asian Highway-1 to the town's east. Fighting broke out in various parts of the town involving PDF and KNLA forces. The junta responded with heavy artillery shelling and air strikes, killing three civilians and injuring at least 15. According to the rebels, the town was surrounded and being patrolled by the joint rebel coalition by that afternoon.
Heavy artillery shelling and air strikes from the junta targeted the military garrison base in Ward 2 while the rebel forces engaged in a battle near the General Administration Department office in Ward 7, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the north. The junta continued its shelling of the town, targeting Ward 7 of Kawkareik- destroying civilian homes in the process. Regime troops stationed in nearby Kamaigone, Kawnwet and Ywarthit villages were withdraw to defend Kawkareik.
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Battle of Kawkareik
The Battle of Kawkareik or siege of Kawkareik occurred in late October 2022 when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) escalated fighting in southeastern Myanmar and besieged the district-level capital town of Kawkareik. At the time, it appeared to be a significant first seizure of a major town by anti-junta forces since the renewed civil war.
Fighting broke out on 21 October with a series of surprise attacks on the Asia Highway leading into Kawkareik and at government offices within the town. Ultimately, the resistance forces were unable to take the urban areas due to the junta's air and artillery strikes. Heavy artillery shelling and air strikes from the junta targeted the military garrison base in Ward 2, while the rebel forces engaged in a battle near the General Administration Department office in Ward 7. According to the KNLA, their objective was to draw junta reinforcements away from surrounding positions and was never to take the town.
In 2021, the State Administration Council junta seized power in the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, sparking a civil war between the ousted National Unity Government (NUG) and renewing the long-standing Karen conflict. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), launched attacks in Myawaddy District and in Lay Kay Kaw as early as April 2021.
In August 2022, the KNLA led attacks on the Kawkareik District police station and the General Administration Department office in Kawkareik.
The siege of Kawkareik began after a call to action from the NUG in mid October. The NUG's local People's Defence Forces (PDFs) worked with Karen rebel forces in the battle.
The battle itself was instigated by Boh (Lieutenant) L Say Warr, who serves the Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA), a group established in July 2022. He previously served in the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), the KNU's first armed wing.
Around 7 a.m. on 21 October 2022, Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA) forces launched a surprise attack in Kawkareik Township, targeting police offices, toll gates and administrative offices of the junta. The junta's Light Infantry Battalion 97 responded with mortar shells, killing one and injuring two civilians. Eyewitnesses reported Myanmar Air Force aircraft flying over and bombing the Asian Highway-1 to the town's east. Fighting broke out in various parts of the town involving PDF and KNLA forces. The junta responded with heavy artillery shelling and air strikes, killing three civilians and injuring at least 15. According to the rebels, the town was surrounded and being patrolled by the joint rebel coalition by that afternoon.
Heavy artillery shelling and air strikes from the junta targeted the military garrison base in Ward 2 while the rebel forces engaged in a battle near the General Administration Department office in Ward 7, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the north. The junta continued its shelling of the town, targeting Ward 7 of Kawkareik- destroying civilian homes in the process. Regime troops stationed in nearby Kamaigone, Kawnwet and Ywarthit villages were withdraw to defend Kawkareik.