More than 500 civilians and soldiers fled conflict in Myanmar and crossed into Thailand after an assault by ethnic fighters on a military base, the Thai army said.
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.
Thai military and police disarmed one hundred Myanmar soldiers and 467 civilians who crossed over.
They also 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”.
Saw Thamain Tun, a leader of KNLA’s political wing, confirmed there had been fighting near the border and said that joint forces had “seized some front posts” from the army. — AFP
