Thailand sees border influx as hundreds of Myanmar troops, civilians flee army base assault
More than 500 civilians and 100 Myanmar soldiers crossed into Thailand after an assault by ethnic Karen fighters on a military base, prompting increased border patrols
Myanmar has been mired in civil conflict since a military coup in 2021, with the junta battling a coalition of ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy resistance forces.
Saturday’s attack by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) targeted a military base in Kayin state at around 3pm local time, Thailand’s military said in a statement.
“The Myanmar soldiers attempted to resist and called for supporting firepower to defend their position, but were ultimately unable to hold the line,” it said.
One hundred Myanmar soldiers and 467 civilians had crossed into Thailand on Saturday, where Thai military and police disarmed them and provided treatment and humanitarian aid, officials said.
Thai forces have ramped up patrols along the border in western Tak province to prevent what officials described as a potential “violation of sovereignty by foreign armed forces”.