TAK, Thailand – Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) forces have seized a Myanmar military base opposite Thailand’s Tak province after a week-long offensive, a Thai military task force reported on Wednesday.

The Rajamanu Task Force reported that KNLA and KNDO forces, both under the Karen National Union (KNU), seized the military base in Hpa-an, Karen State, around 6:40 PM local time on Tuesday. The base is approximately 7 kilometers from the Thai border, opposite Tha Song Yang district, Tak province.

Despite reported attempts by the Myanmar military to defend the base with air strikes throughout the week, the Karen forces successfully overran the position, seizing weapons and equipment. Remaining Myanmar troops reportedly retreated from the base.

Meanwhile, the Thai military’s Rajamanu Task Force, along with Ranger Regiment 35 and Border Patrol Police Unit 34, have intensified patrols along the border. Reinforcements with supporting weaponry have been deployed in line with contingency plans to prevent any intrusion by foreign armed groups and to ensure the safety of Thai civilians in the border area around the clock. (TNA)