After a day of intense fighting, over 30 soldiers and police officers aligned with the Myanmar junta surrendered in Karen State. The surrender took place at the Kawt Bein village police station following an attack by the Lion Battalion and their resistance allies on Sunday morning. Kawt Bein village, located on the border between Karen and Mon states, sits approximately 32 kilometers away from Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon.
The Mon Liberation Army (MLA) reported that two junta soldiers were killed and three others injured during the clashes, while 33 personnel surrendered, accompanied by 17 family members. The attack on the police station involved not only the Lion Battalion but also the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Albino Tigers, and Galone Column. Furthermore, the operation resulted in the successful seizure of weapons and ammunition.
The Lion Battalion confirmed that the captives were handed over to the civilian National Unity Government. In efforts to defend the police station, the junta deployed a fleet including Mi-35, Mi-2, and other fighter jets, as disclosed by the MLA. A staggering total of eight airstrikes were conducted on Monday, each unleashing at least 15 bombs, reported by an MLA representative. As a result of the escalating conflict, residents of Kawt Bein and neighboring villages have evacuated their homes. Naing Banyar Mon, spokesman for the NMSP, underscored that the successful seizure of the police station would empower the resistance forces to undertake additional operations in both Karen and Mon states.
In January 2023, resistance forces set fire to a junta base in Kawt Bein, and in early March, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)-allied forces attacked junta bases in Karen State. On March 9, KNLA and its allies captured the junta's Infantry Battalion 355 headquarters and a police station in Thingannyinaung village, Myawaddy Township, leading to airstrikes and shelling by the junta, displacing around 7,000 civilians. Further, on March 11, KNLA and its resistance allies attacked the junta's Pha Luu base, resulting in the junta's abandonment of the base and the crossing of approximately 1,000 civilians into Thailand due to shelling and airstrikes by the junta.
Defeated regime soldiers crossed into Thailand on March 19 following a resistance attack on the Mae Tha Raw Hta base near the Thai border in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Additionally, over 70 junta soldiers from the Raytahlauk outpost in Kawkareik Township crossed the Thai border to Paikhalan village in Tak Province on March 21, amid reports of a KNLA attack.

BOB Post