Siege of Myawaddy

Siege of Myawaddy
Part of Myanmar civil war (2021–present)
Date December 2023 – April 24, 2024 Location Myawaddy and surrounding villages, Myanmar 16.6857°N 98.5067°E / 16.6857; 98.5067 Result Junta victory Karen resistance withdrawal from Kawkareik and Myawaddy by 24 April
Belligerents
Karen National Union Karen National Liberation Army Karen National Defence Organisation People's Defence Force Democratic Karen Buddhist Army KNU/KNLA Peace Council	State Administration Council Karen National Army
Commanders and leaders
	Soe Win Saw Chit Thu
Casualties and losses
	600+ surrendered

The Siege of Myawaddy was a significant military engagement that occurred in early 2024, during the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. The siege took place in the town of Myawaddy, located on the eastern border with Thailand.

Background

Myawaddy serves as a vital border town for overland trade between Myanmar and Thailand. The military junta, which seized power in Myanmar in 2021, faced escalating attacks by ethnic Karen insurgents, supported by other anti-coup factions. The Karen National Union (KNU), in particular, had been engaged in a struggle for self-rule since Myanmar's independence in 1948.

Events

Since December 2023 Karen forces have targeted junta forces in Kawkareik as well as the Hpa-An–Myawaddy road, which is part of the Asian Highway 1.

The siege began with weeks of sustained attacks by ethnic Karen insurgents on military positions in and around Myawaddy. After a prolonged siege and several days of negotiations, on 5 April over 600 junta soldiers stationed in Myawaddy agreed to surrender to the KNU and withdrew across the border to Mae Sot/ leaving only the 275th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB), positioned near the town's western entrance, to defend the town. On 7 April, junta officials fled into Thailand. The junta requested Thailand for a military flight from Mae Sot to evacuate certain officials and others awaiting refuge on the border.

KNLA and PDF troops were seen at the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge border crossing in northeastern Myawaddy on the morning of the 9 April. Later that afternoon, the KNLA and PDF launched a heavy assault on the LIB 275th base. Fighting ended late the next day, when the KNLA and PDF captured the LIB 275th base. Over 200 junta soldiers withdrew to another bridge on the border. In response, Thailand deployed the 3rd Army along the border. The junta began sending reinforcements in a counteroffensive to retake the town, but were stalled in Kyondoe. On 12 April, Thai officials and the KNU spokesperson confirmed the capture of Myawaddy. The junta retaliated with airstrikes despite locals stating that the KNLA were not in the streets of the town.

Aftermath

Despite the KNLA's major role in capturing Myawaddy, the KNLA and PDF groups ceded the city's control to the Karen National Army (KNA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA-5) to ensure security within the city. According to the KNU/KNLA-PC, the KNA is playing a major role in negotiations between the KNU and the junta regarding Myawaddy.

Operation "Aung Zeya"

After Myawaddy's capture, the Light Infantry Division (LID) 55, numbering around 1,000 and reportedly led by the junta second-in-command Soe Win, began attempting to cross the Dawna Range to recapture the town in a counteroffensive known as "Operation Aung Zeya". The LID 55 was continually intercepted by the KNLA and allies, being forced to retreat and reportedly experiencing heavy losses. On 19 April, the MNLA-AMD began launching attacks on a junta convoy in Kyaikmaraw Township heading towards Myawaddy to recapture the city from anti-junta forces. Late on 19 April, the KNLA began launching attacks on the remaining 150 junta soldiers from the LIB 275th which retreated under the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on 10 April, the last junta hold-out in the town. The junta responded with airstrikes.

On 23 April, the Tatmadaw recaptured the LIB 275th base. On 24 April, the Karen rebels retreated from Myawaddy City, and the Karen National Army and the Tatmadaw achieved joint control of Myawaddy City.

Impact

Trade through Myawaddy had already been declining due to clashes in neighboring areas. Official figures from the Myanmar junta's Ministry of Commerce showed a significant drop in trade value between April 2023 and February 2024. The ongoing conflict between the military and anti-regime forces further exacerbated the decline in trade, affecting both legal and unofficial border trade routes.