November 21, 2024

WEEKLY BURMA SUMMARY

Rangers singing and dancing with children in southern Shan State.

Bringing in the Love as the Burma Army Loses Ground

Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) seized another Burma Army camp in northern Karen State while holding off reinforcements to a Burma Army camp in central Karen State. The Burma Army aggressively launched airstrikes and artillery at resistance forces and civilians in these areas. Rangers provided medical treatment to injured soldiers and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) while conducting Good Life Club (GLC) programs in southern Shan State.

NORTHERN KAREN STATE

Left: A Karen girl injured by a Burma Army drone bomb attack on Myet Ne Gwein Village.  

Right: A house in Myet Ne Gwein Village destroyed by a Burma Army drone attack.

Top: A Karen girl injured by a Burma Army drone bomb attack on Myet Ne Gwein Village.

Bottom: A house in Myet Ne Gwein Village destroyed by a Burma Army drone attack.

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Resistance forces seized Burma Army’s Kuseik Camp in Mutraw District; meanwhile, the Burma Army targeted civilians using drones and mortars in Kler Lwe Htoo District.

In Mutraw District, the KNLA and other resistance groups attacked Burma Army’s Kuseik Camp (near Hpapun) on Nov. 9. The resistance seized the camp on Nov. 11 after the Burma Army retreated to Ma Htaw Camp. The battle resulted in eight Burma Army deaths and two resistance soldier injuries. The joint resistance forces captured rocket launchers, mortar rounds, three drone jammers, and other small arms ammunition after clearing the camp.

In Kler Lwe Htoo District, Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 439 launched a drone attack on Myet Ne Gwein on Nov. 12, killing a villager, injuring two civilians, and destroying a house. KNLA medics provided treatment for the victims. On Nov. 16, in Ler Doh Township, the Burma Army fired 60mm mortars into the Wen Chen Village, destroying some houses and injuring one PDF soldier.

Learn about drone attacks in Burma

CENTRAL KAREN STATE

Left: KNLA medics treat and evacuate an injured soldier.

Right: A destroyed house from a Burma military airstrike.

Top: KNLA medics treat and evacuate an injured soldier.

Bottom: A destroyed house from a Burma military airstrike.

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Fighting intensified in Dooplaya District as the Burma Army tried to reinforce their soldiers at Annan Kwin Camp, who have been surrounded by KNLA and PDF forces since early August of 2024.

On Nov. 11, Burma Army LIB 210 under Light Infantry Division (LID) 22 clashed with resistance forces as the Burma Army tried to reinforce their surrounded soldiers at Annan Kwin Camp. The Burma Army used ground attacks, artillery strikes (105 mm), and airstrikes (MI-35 helicopters, jet fighters, and Y-12 airplanes) against the resistance forces, and the fighting resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. LIB 210 failed to reinforce Annan Kwin and retreated, leaving weapons and ammunition, which were seized by the resistance forces. Nearby at Lut Shan and Zee Nha Pin villages, the Burma Army launched airstrikes and 105 mm howitzer rounds into a predominantly Christian residential area, damaging a civilian residence and a rubber / agricultural farm.

The next day, on Nov. 12, the Burma Army fired 105 mm artillery and 60 mm mortars against KNLA and PDF forces surrounding Annan Kwin, wounding two resistance soldiers and damaging a road. On Nov. 13, the resistance suffered one fatality as they skirmished again with the Burma Army at Annan Kwin. Rangers have been with the KNLA and PDF throughout these clashes, helping treat and evacuate the casualties during the fighting.

In Doo Tha Htoo District, the Burma Army fired 60 mm mortars in Theinzayat, Kyaikto Township, on Nov. 5th, which killed a 70-year-old woman and injured her 15-year-old grandson.

Please pray for the healing of the victims and that the Burma Army would stop fighting and return to their own territories.

SOUTHERN SHAN STATE

Left: A boy shows his injuries from a landmine explosion, which also killed his father. 

Right: Rangers exercise with school children as part of the Good Life Club program.

Top: A boy shows his injuries from a landmine explosion, which also killed his father. 

Bottom: Rangers exercise with school children as part of the Good Life Club program.

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Rangers responded to a landmine victim, provided medical treatment to IDPs, and performed family programs in Pekon Township.

A landmine killed one man and injured his son on Nov. 15 outside of Lone Pyin Village. The father was killed by a shrapnel wound to his left chest, while his son was wounded across his body. The child is now living with his aunt and uncle. On Nov. 18, Rangers visited the injured child, bringing him school supplies and financial assistance.

Rangers provided medical care and performed a Good Life Club (GLC) program with singing and dancing for over 100 children at the Kar Mai IDP Camp on Nov. 15.

The Rangers also operated a mobile clinic at the IDP camp and treated 62 patients. Most of the patients treated were suffering from common cold, influenza, hypertension, and chronic cough as a result of the cold weather.

Please pray for the IDPs in southern Shan State that they would be sustained and encouraged in their hearts, and also please pray for the son who is recovering from his injuries after losing his father.

Iraq and Syria

Left: Bringing joy to village children in Kurdistan with Christmas shoebox gifts!

Right: FBR Ranger bringing help and prayer to rural villages, sharing kindness and support where it is needed most.

Top: Bringing joy to village children in Kurdistan with Christmas shoebox gifts!

Bottom: FBR Ranger bringing help and prayer to rural villages, sharing kindness and support where it is needed most.

This past week the Middle East Team helped a woman travel to Damascus, Syria, for specialized medical care, supported a Yazidi family in crisis, and contributed to a young girl’s life-changing eye surgery. 

In Kurdistan, Rangers coordinated efforts to serve local communities and partner with teams from Europe and America. Together, they have been reaching unreached places, praying for people, sharing testimonies, and spreading the message of Jesus.

Our outreach has included house visits, where they have prayed with families, blessed them with financial support, and provided food baskets to meet their needs. Additionally, the Rangers recently distributed Christmas shoeboxes to children in remote areas of Kurdistan, sharing the story of Jesus and bringing joy during the holiday season. Through these efforts, lives have been transformed as they pray for healing, leading people to Jesus, and awakening hearts to their true identity in God’s kingdom. Each step we take is a reflection of our mission to bring light and hope to those who need it most. Thank you for standing with us in this work!

See more of FBR’s work in the Middle East

www.freeburmarangers.org