Clashes between the government of Myanmar and Karen rebel forces happened all through Saturday night and into Sunday morning, causing more civilians to seek temporary shelter in Mae Sot district, which is in the western part of Tak province in Thailand.
The rebels used mortar and drone attacks against the remaining Myanmar troops, who had withdrawn from their last base in Myawaddy township and are now stationed in ditches and bunkers close to the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge, around 1.5 km from the Thai border in Tha Sai Luad sub-district, Mae Sot district.
At the same time, the Myanmar government reacted with air strikes, employing Russian-made MiG-29 fighters and helicopter gunships, against rebel positions in Myawaddy. The noise of bomb blasts and automatic gunfire could be heard from the Thai border all through the night.
Thai security sources believe that both warring sides likely suffered casualties in the bombings, but no specific details are available.
The count of people from Myanmar seeking temporary shelter in holding centers in Ban Wang Takhien has grown to around 2,000 in the past few days. Thai security officials anticipate that more individuals will escape across the border into Thailand if the clashes keep intensifying.
Myawaddy township, a significant center for trade crossing between Thailand and Myanmar, is currently under the control of the Karen National Union.
The government sent reinforcements to recapture the township, but their progress has been halted by rebel forces using ambushes and other guerrilla tactics.
