The Karenni resistance coalition has launched a counteroffensive against junta positions in Pekon Township, southern Shan State.

The Karenni resistance coalition launched an offensive on December 6 against junta forces near Salong North and Salong South villages, west of Pekon Township along the Karenni State border, a resistance frontline source reported.

“Our resistance coalition regrouped and launched an offensive on the morning of December 6, continuing through to the morning of December 8. We focused on junta positions near the villages, where their troops had dug trenches and fortified their defenses,” he told Shan Herald.

During the ongoing clashes, several junta officers and soldiers were killed, and the Karenni resistance also suffered some casualties, he added.

“We found the bodies of at least five junta soldiers and managed to seize some of their weapons. The fighting was really intense, and there are still some bodies that haven’t been recovered by either side,” he said.

The resistance forces decided to launch the counteroffensive after junta positions near Salong North and Salong South villages were conducting near-daily attacks on their operational areas using artillery and drones.

“In early December, the fighting had eased a bit, but recently the junta has been hitting us almost every night with drone strikes and artillery. So, we launched the counteroffensive in response,” the source said.

Over the past two months, the junta and Pa-O National Organisation joint forces have clashed frequently with the Karenni resistance coalition in Pekon Township, resulting in some civilian deaths from the junta’s indiscriminate firing.

In the second week of September, junta-PNO joint military columns moved into Bawyan, Salong North, and Salong South villages, forcing about 5,000 residents to flee to nearby forests and safer villages.