Starvation and Defections Plague Military Council’s Aung Zeya Line in Karen State

Soldiers stationed at the Aung Zeya Line, a key military outpost on Mount Dawna in Karen State, are reportedly suffering from severe starvation, with many abandoning their positions, according to Major Dabaugh, operations commander of the COBRA Line.

The Aung Zeya Line, under the control of Myanmar’s military council, has been effectively surrounded and cut off by joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the COBRA Line. The blockade has caused supply shortages, leaving frontline troops without adequate food and resources.

Major Dabaugh confirmed that the situation has led to significant hardships:
“The soldiers are hungry and thirsty. Many have grown visibly thinner. When they manage to escape, they are treated with care upon reaching us.”

In December alone, around 20 soldiers reportedly fled the Aung Zeya Line to escape the dire conditions. The deteriorating morale and increasing desertions highlight the mounting challenges faced by the military council’s forces amid continued offensives by ethnic armed groups.

This development underscores the effectiveness of the Karen forces’ blockade strategy in weakening the military council’s hold on the region. Observers note that the growing defections and logistical issues could further tilt the balance of power in favor of resistance groups.