Fighting between government troops and soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), or Klo Htoo Baw Battalion, over the new Myawaddy – Kawkareik Asia Highway broke out on Thursday according to Karen News on 2 July.
It is believed the clashes occurred over security for the highway in relation to a planned official visit to the area by, General Tin Maung Win, of South Eastern Military Command.
The fighting between Myanmar Army Infantry Battalion 231 under the Military Operation Command 12 and soldiers from the DKBA under the command of Brigadier General Saw Kyaw Thet resulted in a number of casualties. The report suggested that at least one Myanmar Army soldier was killed.