On the morning of October 17, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied People's Defense Forces (PDF) captured Swe Taw Kone strategic artillery base, a hill-based major stronghold of the military junta located near Lay Kay Kaw in the south of Myawaddy, Karen State.
This military base acts as a major military stronghold where the military junta had stored a significant amount of heavy weaponry and military supplies in the Lay Kay Kaw area, which the KNLA and the PDF forces, including the Cobra Column, managed to secure.
According to Padoh Saw Taw Nee, spokesperson for the KNU, the base was essential for the junta to maintain its grip on Myawaddy.
When the KNLA and PDF forces captured the Swe Taw Kone base, they reportedly seized a large cache of weapons as well as captured several soldiers. However, as of now, confirmation of the exact number of weapons captured is still pending.
The Swe Taw Kone strategic base is the last remaining stronghold near the newly established Lay Kay Kone town, and it has a history of regularly shelling civilian areas. The base has been a central point for heavy artillery during battles around Myawaddy, making it a primary target for the KNLA and allied forces, who engaged in combat for over two months to secure its capture.
The Swe Taw Kone base, which was established in 2003 by the military as a border guard outpost on the Thai-Myanmar border, has housed troops from Infantry Divisions 22 and 44 as well as costal forces. Following the successful capture of this base, local reports indicate that the KNLA and allied forces may proceed to launch attacks on other nearby military bases, including the Wawlay strategic base and the Ukarithta outpost.
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