Myanmar's military deployed ground troops and launched air and artillery strikes against rebel forces in the country's east, witnesses, local media and an aid group said on Thursday, prompting thousands of people to flee, Reuters reported. Bombardments were carried out for the second day in Nan Mei Khon village in Kayah, a state bordering Thailand where soldiers have met months of resistance from the Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF), one of several militia groups that is challenging the junta's rule. Fighting broke out on February 16 when two junta armored cars and over one thousand regime soldiers entered Heigh Kwee Dam and War Yi Phu Pha Lai Village near Moebye. Resistance fighters from various groups are battling the military regime forces. One resistance fighter told The Irrawaddy that there have been daily junta air and artillery strikes in and around Moebye. "While we are talking, the airstrikes are coming", he said. "The fighting is still going on. It has been six days now," he added. Myanmar's military council could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday, and state media outlets have not mentioned the fighting. The Free Burma Rangers, a relief organization operating in the area, shared footage from a day earlier of houses ablaze in the village with the sound of artillery exploding nearby. "Bombing again today on 24 February 2022. Also mortar attacks and infantry assault in this area. Thousands fleeing again," the group's founder, David Eubank, said in a text message. Eubank said two people were killed and three were wounded on Wednesday. The Myanmar Now news site reported three were killed in another village attacked by a jet on Wednesday. A KNDF representative was unable to confirm reports of casualties but said heavy fighting had taken place since Wednesday, Reuters reported while saying it was unable to independently verify the information. Meanwhile, human rights advocates are urging governments to stop supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar as the airstrikes continued. Calls to cut off jet fuel supplies gained attention after several major oil and gas companies, including Total and Chevron, said they would withdraw from ventures in the country, potentially reducing flows of hard currency to the military. The military ruled Myanmar for five decades until 2011 but is struggling to consolidate power this time as it faces protests in cities, armed conflict on several fronts and sanctions imposed to isolate generals who overthrew a democratically elected government last year. At least 90,000 people have since been displaced by fighting in Kayah state, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency, which estimates 441,000 people have fled unrest in Myanmar since the coup. Human rights groups have accused the military of using disproportionate force in civilian areas. The military says it is fighting "terrorists." A rescue worker, who declined to be identified for safety reasons, told Reuters that heavy bombardment was complicating efforts to move civilians to relief camps. "Thousands of people are stuck," the rescue worker said. "We weren't able to get them out of the area yet... They are attacking the people by air, by land and also with heavy weapons." — Agencies
