Some Karen National Army (KNA) troops have begun withdrawing from Myawaddy town in Karen State amid pressure from the coup junta, locals told Than Lwin Times.

The junta had set a January 25 deadline for all KNA troops to leave Myawaddy town, but KNA forces remained there until January 26.

However, on the morning of January 27, KNA fighters previously deployed at three positions in Myawaddy town withdrew, and junta soldiers reportedly took over those positions.

Locals reported that some KNA troops remain in the town, with some removing their KNA arm badges while continuing to live there, and others not removing their badges at all.

In addition, junta-aligned Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) members, led by BGF Military Region 4 commander Brigadier General Saw Mote Thun, who did not join former BGF factions that later became the KNA and broke away from junta command, remain in the town, helping junta forces maintain security.

The junta, concerned about potential attacks on its Infantry Battalion 275 in Myawaddy town, pressured two ceasefire-signatory Karen armed groups, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), to help provide security for the battalion and the town.

The junta has threatened to carry out airstrikes on 18 military-related positions in Myawaddy town if any attacks are directed at Infantry Battalion 275.

On January 1, BGF Military Regions 2 and 3, led by Major General Saw Chit Thu and Major Saw Tin Win, announced their secession from the junta to join the KNA, while BGF Military Regions 1 and 4 chose to remain under their original status.

The junta has shown overt hostility toward BGF factions that became the KNA, launching airstrikes on some KNA positions and forcing the closure of KNA checkpoints along the border trade route to Thailand.