Myanmar air force bombs Karen rebel forces in Kayah state today, 32 dead

Myanmar’s air force launched air strikes against positions of the Karenni Army in the Kayah state today, injuring two civilians and damaging an abandoned office of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), which has been fighting for an independent Karen state since 1957.

According to the Kantarawaddy Times, a mouthpiece of the KNPP, the first air strike occurred at about 6.10am today, when a Russian-made YAK-130 Myanmar government aircraft bombed the KNPP’s old office in Pha Song district, causing serious damage to the building, but no injuries.

The second air strike was reported at about 8am, targeting a mountain-top chedi, resulting in two Karen villagers being injured.

Kantarawaddy claimed that 32 Karen civilians have been killed and several others injured since the Myanmar government launched air strikes against the KNPP positions on Sunday.

On Sunday, fierce fighting was reported when about 200 anti-government forces, including the Karenni Army, an armed wing of the KNPP, attacked a garrison of Myanmar troops in Pha Song and managed to seize several outposts, except for the main mountainous garrison.

The Myanmar government responded with air strikes, causing injuries to several rebels, some of whom were taken to a Thai hospital in Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son province for treatment.

Rebel sources claim that an armed Myanmar drone attacked three trucks carrying wounded soldiers and civilians to a Thai hospital, killing seven of them.