AFP: Ethnic Karen rebels in Myanmar attacked a key town near the Thai border on Friday, residents and local media said, with the military junta calling in air strikes.
The Karen National Union (KNU) has been a vocal opponent of the military coup last year, and has provided shelter to dissidents working to oust the junta.
Its fighters, along with anti-coup “People’s Defence Forces” have clashed sporadically with the military along the Thai border, sending thousands fleeing across the frontier for safety.
Friday’s fighting began at 0100 GMT in Kawkareik, which sits on the road to a major border crossing with Thailand, a resident who requested anonymity said.
The fighting was ongoing, they said, adding it appeared “armed groups” were trying to attack government offices.
“We are hearing heavy weapon shelling,” they said, adding that three civilians were killed, and at least 15 were sent to hospital.
A KNU spokesman said its fighters were battling junta troops at various locations around the town.
The military called in multiple air strikes to support its troops on the ground, he said.
Both sides suffered casualties, he added, without providing details.
“We are hiding in the basement,” a resident of the town said.
“Just in front of my eyes, I saw a vendor killed in an explosion.”
Other injured people were taken to hospital, they said.