The Importance of the Ye-Thanbyuzayat Road Section for the Military Junta
As the election date approaches, the coup military junta is launching intense military offensives nationwide, claiming it is for regional stability. Similarly, the military junta’s offensives are increasingly seen in both northern and southern Mon State. Along with these offensives, the military junta’s use of aircraft for airstrikes has also been observed in the northern part of the state. However, the military junta’s use of aircraft for attacks has not been observed in the southern part of the state. The No. (8) Union Highway in southern Mon State is important for Myanmar, as well as for the military junta. However, the military junta has relinquished control of the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of that road since the coup (2022), and it has been under the control of the Mon and Karen revolutionary allied forces.
The fighting situation in Mon State
In Thaton Township, northern Mon State, the military junta’s column was attacked for two consecutive days. On the night of October 22, near the Moekaung Village junction on the Yangon-Mawlamyine road, and on October 23, near Yeway Village, they were ambushed by a joint force of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Additionally, on October 25, near Dok Yat Village in Bilin Township, a clash occurred between the military junta’s patrol unit and the joint KNLA forces for about half an hour on the Yangon-Mawlamyine road.[1]
From October 14 to November 12, there were (9) villages in northern Mon State that were attacked using aircraft by the military junta, and (3) villages that were attacked by drones and other aerial means. All of these attacks occurred within Brigade (1) territory of the Karen National Union (KNU), specifically in Kyaikto Township’s Win Kan, Kyauk Phyar, Nat Sin[2], and in Thaton Township’s Yeway, Upper Naung Ka Tot, Kaw Hlaing, the base of Win Phone Mountain, Mi Chaung Eain, Shwe Kyi, and Yae Twin Phyu villages.[3]
Although there were no aircraft attacks by the military junta in southern Mon State, aerial attacks continue. Since October 26, the military junta has launched an offensive with superior forces to the vicinity of Katunsi Village, in Kyaikmaraw Township, where joint Mon and Karen revolutionary forces are based. Consequently, the revolutionary forces withdrew from that location. Locals report that after regaining control of the cement factory (MCL), the military junta has been conducting aerial attacks on surrounding villages from the factory grounds.
“The military commission is stationed near the cement factory. From there, they are using drones and heavy artillery to fire at the village. What they are firing is falling and exploding near the village and houses,”
“The military commission is stationed near the cement factory. From there, they are using drones and heavy artillery to fire at the village. What they are firing is falling and exploding near the village and houses,” according to a local resident of Kyaikmayaw t, as reported by the Independent Mon News Agency.[4]
Additionally, on November 10, heavy artillery fire also occurred from Infantry Battalion (591), a military group based in Kyaung Ywa village, Ye Township. Regarding battles, only two guerrilla operations by the Ye Balu Battalion were recorded in Ye Township, southern Mon State. These include the October 27 attack on the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) checkpoint at the entrance of Hnin Son village, and the November 10 attack on Infantry Battalion (591) in Kyaung Ywa village.[5]
Military junta forcefully advances troops on Ye-Thanbyuzayat road section
In the northern Ye Township, the coup military junta has been reinforcing its forces since the beginning of last October and conducting troop advances along the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of the No. (8) Union Highway. The northern part of Ye Township stretches from Ayut Taung-Mote Kanin to Hni Ka Rein junction-Aung Thayar and is also the base area for the military junta’s Infantry Battalions (343), (587), (588), Light Infantry Battalion (106), and No. (317) Artillery Battalion. In addition, the military junta’s proxy, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), also has small gate outposts in Hnint Soe and San Pya villages.
After the coup, the Ayut Taung People’s Militia, led by U Lin Oo, the administrator of Ayut Taung village, also emerged, and its manpower is gradually increasing. The group’s gate outposts are mostly located on the No. (8) Highway and on the connecting road between Ayut Taung-Taung Bon-Thaung Pyin villages. Last month, when troops advanced into Way Ya Hain village, Kyauk Ywar village group, Ye Township, both the military junta, the Ayut Taung People’s Militia, and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) participated.
“In that column, there is also the Ayut Taung group who speak Mon language,” said one of the porters forced to work during the military column operation in Way Ya Hai village, in a Mon language, to whom (RICE) was able to contact.“During the offensive by the SAC [State Administration Council] column, when they came up to Way Ya Hai, these guys were there, collecting money roughly on No. 8 Highway,” was said after the attack by the Yae Bi Lu battalion on the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) gate camp at the entrance of Hnin Son village on October 27.[6] Therefore, it can be seen that the military group was able to build up its strength in Ye Township by exploiting the local people. Thus, these groups are likely to be involved with the military group in regaining control of the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of Highway No. 8, which has been out of their control for years in the northern Ye Township.
Regaining control of this part of the road is very important for the military group, which has been mainly relying on sea routes for years. Only by controlling this road section can the security of Ye and Thanbyuzayat townships, which participated in the second election, be guaranteed. Similarly, the Mawlamyine-Dawei railway line, which runs parallel to Highway No. 8, will also be reopened from its closure. Therefore, it is said that the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section is very important for the military group in terms of politics, military affairs, and economy. Currently, the military group is regularly using the Panda port in A Sin village, a coastal village, to replenish everything from food to manpower, and locals say that they occasionally use the beach, Kaw Dut, and Ni Ka Yote village ports as well.
Conclusion
In recent months, compared to the scale of the entire Mon State, the battle operations of the various revolutionary forces fighting against the coup military junta have decreased. In other words, it can be seen that they are only able to carry out intermittent attacks and guerrilla warfare, which are no more than defensive actions. On the other hand, the military junta has also been relentlessly conducting offensives with unwavering persistence. This may be because there are only over (40) days left until the election. The Ye-Thanbyuzayat road section, which was involved in the military junta’s offensive, can currently be described as a situation of military stalemate on both sides. The Ye-Thanbyuzayat road section is extremely important for the revolutionary joint forces, as it is for the military junta, both militarily and in terms of prestige. For the military junta, the offensive on that road section is in line with the principle of “even if the goal is not achieved, the goal must not be abandoned.” Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the coup military junta will be able to control the Ye-Thanbyuzayat road section in the coming months.
[1]Independent Mon News Agency, October 27, 2025: Fighting occurs almost daily between the military and revolutionary forces in Thaton and Bilin townships as the military advances.independentmonnewsagency
[2]Karen Information Center, October 17, 2025: Three local residents, including a woman, were injured in Kyaukto Township by a jet fighter bombing. kareninformationcenter
[3] Karen Information Center, November 12, 2025: Two civilians were injured in Thaton District due to airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks by the military junta. kareninformationcenter
[4] Independent Mon News Agency, November 4, 2025: Drones and heavy weapons are being used in and around Ka Tone Si village, and some local residents are temporarily displaced. independentmonnewsagency
[5] DVB, November 11, 2025: The Ye Balu group attacked the officer housing of Battalion 591 with RPG. democraticvoiceofburma
[6] Independent Mon News Agency, October 27, 2025: A DKBA checkpoint on Road No. 8 in Ye Township was attacked, resulting in 5 deaths.independentmonnewsagency
