WEEKLY DISPATCH | Sep 16, 2024 | Free Burma Rangers

May 22, 2025

WEEKLY BURMA SUMMARY

A Ranger documents damage done by a Burma military airstrike in Karen State.

Burma Army Targets Civilians As They Lose Ground in Karen State 

The Burma Army targets civilians as they clash with resistance forces and lose ground. In central Karen State, civilians endured mortar fire and airstrikes while resistance forces captured two Burma Army camps. In northern Karen State, Burma military airstrikes hit a school, and multiple villages. 

NORTHERN KAREN STATE

Rangers treat injured resistance soldiers in Mu Traw Disctrict.

363 families were displaced in southern Hsaw Htee Township (Kler Lwee Htoo District) and aerial bombings by the Burma Army continued across northern Karen State, killing and injuring civilians. 


​In Taw Oo District on May 13, a Burma military airplane dropped 500 lb bombs onto a village in Htaw Ta Htoo Township. One villager was killed and three others were injured in the attack. On May 18 at approximately 1135 hours, the Burma military bombed the Hsa Thoo Lay school in Daw Hpa Hkoh Township. The principal of the school, Saw Mya Win, was injured in his right shoulder. 


In Kler Lwee Htoo District on May 11, a Burma military jet bombed the northern portion of Thetkegon Village (Hsaw Htee Township). One man, Ko Thet Wei, was injured in the attack. On May 13, the Burma Army bombed Htee Nya Lee Village (Hsaw Htee Township), injuring two horses.


As of May 15, Rangers counted approximately 363 families (1649 people) that have been displaced from fighting in southern Hsaw Htee Township (Kler Lwee Htoo District). Some of their needs include food, tarps, and health care. 


Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and other resistance forces attacked a Burma Army camp in Taw Mo Pleh Meh (Mu Traw District) on May 13. A few resistance soldiers were killed and more were wounded, whom Rangers helped treat.

CENTRAL KAREN STATE

Left: A building destroyed by Burma military bombing in Dooplaya District.

Right: Rangers distribute supplies on the frontline in Dooplaya District. 

Continued attacks by the Burma military have left four soldiers injured and many villagers displaced in Dooplaya and Doo Tha Htoo Districts. KNLA forces captured two different Burma Army camps in Hpa An District. Ranger teams continue to provide food, supplies, and medical assistance to IDPs and KNLA soldiers in the frontline. 


In Doo Tha Htoo District on May 14, Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 207 and LIB 598 entered Kyeh Htoh Township and fired heavy artillery and mortars on multiple villages, including Win Kan Village, Bawkahta Village, and Kyauk Yae Twin Village. As a result, the villagers were forced to flee their homes. Ranger teams along with KNLA medics are providing food and medical treatment to the displaced villagers. The total number of people displaced due to the incident is still unknown. 


On May 15, in Yae Kyaw Gyi Village, Kruh Tu Township, Dooplaya District, bombing by a Burma military Y-12 plane caused damage to a monastery in the village, while in Yae Kyaw Lay Village, Burma Army troops were documented moving supplies, patrolling, and digging trenches while wearing civilian clothes. In the same township, Rangers provided medical treatment and emergency medical evacuation to two KNLA Battalion 17 soldiers who were wounded in battle. They also provided medical care to 56 IDPs who fled on April 14 due to Burma military artillery shelling and Y-12 aerial bombings on Yae Kyaw Gyi Village. The IDPs are in urgent need of medicine, food, and hygiene products. During ongoing clashes between the Burma Army and the KNLA allied forces, an FBR team delivered food to the KNLA troops at the frontline on five different occasions. In Kaw T’ree Township, the Burma Army conducted eight drone attacks, dropping 60mm bombs on the Tha Mine Gone Village on May 16, injuring one KNLA soldier and displacing villagers.


In Hpa An District, the KNLA captured two Burma Army camps. On May 15, the KNLA captured the Maw Kee Lu Burma Army Camp. On May 19, KNLA Brigade 7 took control of Maw Pho Kay Burma Army Camp after the enemy surrendered and the enemy soldiers fled into Thailand.

SOUTHERN SHAN STATE

Left: Rangers donate tarps to IDPs living in a camp in Moebye Township. 

Right: Structures ready for tarps donated by Rangers.

On May 11, Rangers provided tarpaulins to IDPs at a camp in Moebye Township that has more than 500 IDPs.

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