Brigade 4 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), has warned that fighting may continue as the Myanmar military has sent reinforcements to five townships in southeastern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region, according to a KNU source.

Fighting between KNLA coalition forces and the Myanmar military is likely to intensify in Tanintharyi Region’s Myeik, Tanintharyi, Dawei, Thayetchaung and Palaw townships, according to an official from KNLA Brigade 4.

“The Myanmar military has recently increased its military presence in five townships in Tanintharyi Region to launch attacks on the anti-regime forces,” the KNLA source added. “Under such circumstances, fighting between junta troops and anti-coup resistance groups may intensify in Tanintharyi Region.”

As a result of the regime’s troop buildup, inspections were stepped up along the Myeik-Dawei-Palaw road, and clashes broke out between the Myanmar military and KNLA coalition forces in nearby villages in the second week of April, according to locals.

“Fighting between the local People’s Defence Force, KNU and the Myanmar military has been going on for more than six months in Myeik and Dawei districts,” said an aid worker helping internally displaced people (IDPs). “Now the Myanmar military has deployed more troops to Tanintharyi Region and tightened checks on civilians along the roads. Locals need to be careful as more fighting is imminent.”

Fighting broke out in Tanintharyi Region after the military coup on February 1, 2021, forcing about 10,000 locals to flee to nearby forests, according to relief groups.