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Myanmar military uses kamikaze drones on Karen refugee camp; 1 killed, 200 flee into Thailand
Fighting along the Thai-Myanmar border intensified after the Myanmar military used kamikaze drones to strike a Karen refugee camp, killing one person and prompting about 200 refugees to flee across the border into Thailand.
Local reporters said the clashes involve troops from Myanmar’s Light Infantry Division 22 and forces of the Karen National Union, which have been fighting for months in areas including Ban Minlapran, Ban Phalu Mai, Ban Phalu Noi and Koh Manao in Myawaddy, Kayin State.
The areas lie opposite Ban Huai Maha Wong and Ban Mae Kon Ken in tambon Mahawan, Mae Sot District.
According to reports, the Myanmar military launched four kamikaze drones targeting a hospital at a Karen refugee camp on Koh Manao. The attack killed one refugee and seriously injured another.
During the strike, more than 200 refugees panicked and fled across the Moei River into Thailand. Thai soldiers from the Ratchamanu Task Force, border patrol police from Company 346 in Mae Sot and local administrative officials moved in to control the situation. After the situation calmed, the refugees later returned to the Myanmar side.
Reports also said that, in addition to the drone attacks, the Myanmar air force deployed a YAK-130 aircraft to drop bombs on Karen positions while drones were used to pressure Karen forces to withdraw from the Minlapran area.
Anti-junta sources also said Myanmar troops earlier fired 120mm mortars that hit a cafeteria near a casino in Ban Phalu Noi, killing four Chinese nationals—three men and one woman—and injuring 38 other foreign nationals, including Chinese and people of other nationalities.
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