The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) announced that sixteen Myanmar soldiers were killed in fighting that broke out in the first week of February in Loikaw township, Karenni State.

The KNDF said that nine junta soldiers were killed in clashes with the Karenni Army (KA), KNDF and the PDF at Ling Phon Linn in Loikaw Township on 7 February.

Similarly, fighting lasting about 90 minutes broke out between combined forces of the KA and KNDF and junta troops on Thiri Village hill, in Loikaw Township on 4 February. Seven junta troops were killed and several others were wounded.

The KNDF said that there were no major casualties and that minor injuries to some of their comrades from the KA were the only injuries on their side. A spokesman for the Karenni Defence Force (KDF), a revolutionary force operating in Karenni State, said that fighting resumed in the early hours of February 8.

He said: "As of this morning (8 February), there have been shootings in Daw Khu. However, which groups are fighting and the numbers of casualties are not yet known. The wards where fighting took place are in Loikaw Township.” Mizzima is still investigating the details.

The KDF official said that currently, there has been no major fighting in February, but, the fighting could intensify at any time as both sides are hiding in the area waiting to see how the situation will develop.

A total of 156 clashes have taken place in Karenni State and more than 600 military junta troops have been killed in the year since the coup, from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2022, according to a statement from the Progressive Karenni People’s Force (PKPF). A total of 32 airstrikes have reportedly also killed nearly 200 civilians and at least 60 People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters.