Introduction
Between January 13th and February 12th, 2026, there were a total of eight battles in Mon State. Three battles occurred in Ye Township, southern Mon State, while two occurred in Kyaikto Township and three in Bilin Township, both located in northern Mon State. Observation of the battles reveals that they occurred in the Du Thaton District and Duplaya District of the Karen National Union (KNU) due to offensives launched by the military junta.
Military Council Forces and Revolutionaries Battle Statistics Chart
No. Date Township Village
1 February 9 Kyaikto Muk Kama
2 February 9 Kyaikto Ka Ywet
3 February 7 Bilin Nyaung Htauk
4 February 8 Bilin Pho War Thein
5 February 3 Ye Kyaung Ywar
6 January 26 Bilin Ah Lu Lay
6 January 18 Ye Ka Nin Ka Mot
7 January 15 Ye Aung Thapyay
Fighting Continues in Northern Mon State
Since February 8th, the military junta has launched an offensive into Kyaikto Township in Du Thaton District, controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU). Fighting between the two sides began the following day, February 9th. Clashes occurred in Muk Kamaung and Krawel villages between the joint revolutionary forces led by the KNU/KNLA and the military. During the fighting, the military junta’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. (207), based in Theinzayat, and Artillery Battalion No. (310) provided heavy artillery support. Three members of the People’s Defense Force, part of the joint revolutionary forces, were killed. /
Furthermore, on the evening of February 10th, the coup military group was able to break into Kyauk Yae Twin Village and also arrested approximately 30 local civilians to use as human shields. Days before the fighting started, on January 31st, without any clashes, the coup military group launched a jet fighter attack, dropping two bombs on Kyauk Yae Twin Village, Kyaikhto Township, damaging one house and some rubber trees. In addition, the 310th Artillery Battalion attacked with two heavy weapons.
Similarly, in Thaton District, starting from February 7th, the military junta launched an offensive into Bilin Township, targeting Nyaung Htauk village with three columns advancing simultaneously from Alu Gyi village, Chan Myae Su village, and Pho Waa Theim village. On February 7th, the same day the military columns entered, fighting broke out in Nyaung Htauk village and Pho Waa Theim village. A military junta column set fire to and destroyed two houses in those villages. Afterwards, they established a base in Pho Waa Theim village for approximately three days.
Due to the fighting, nearly 5,000 local people from around 10 villages including Nyaung Htauk, Alu Gyi, Pho Waa Theim, Chan Myae Su, Win Thaung, Shan Su, and Thayet Kone fled and took refuge. On February 11th, the military junta left Pho Waa Theim village and established a base in Alu Gyi village. Currently, the military situation in Thaton District is tense on both sides.
Tension on the Ye-Thanbyuzayat Road
In Ye Township, located in southern Mon State, the military junta focused on security in Ye town and areas where its battalions and bases were situated during the junta’s stage-managed elections. Immediately after the elections, starting from the second week of January, the military junta resumed its offensive operations. It was observed that they launched an offensive from Mote Kanin in northern Ye Township to Aung Thapyay village, bordering Thanbyuzayat Township. Due to this situation, a clash broke out on January 15 between the military junta’s column and two units under the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) – the Mon State Revolution Force (MSRF) and the Ye Township People’s Defense Force (YPDF) – which control that section of the road. On January 18, another battle took place near Kanin Kamaung village between the military junta and the revolutionary forces.
Furthermore, on February 3rd, the day after Mon National Day, at approximately 5:00 AM, the Ramanya Mon Army (NMSP(AD)/RMA)’s Battalion (904), the Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA)’s Battalion (27), and the Ye Guerrilla Force (YGF)’s Battalion (8001) jointly attacked the military junta’s Battalion (591), based in Kyaung Ywa village, Ye Township, with heavy and small arms. / Due to the exchange of fire, a 40mm heavy weapon round exploded within the village, and the military junta temporarily closed the Ye-Kyaung Ywa road for hours. It appears that the military junta’s military operations are increasingly targeting the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of Union Highway (8).
On February 7th, the Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) reported, citing local sources, that a military convoy of approximately 20 vehicles, including heavy artillery, arrived at Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 315, belonging to the coup military group, in Wae Kali village, Thanbyuzayat Township, via the Southeast Regional Military Command (SERMC) based in Mawlamyine. The military convoy that arrived in Thanbyuzayat may have a military objective beyond routine reinforcement. The inclusion of heavy artillery in the convoy suggests that the military group is preparing to regain control of the Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of Union Highway No. 8, which they have lost.
Conclusion
In summary, the military operations in Mon State primarily involve area clearance and offensives conducted by the coup military junta following the election. The military situation is intense in northern Mon State, while the south has seen similar offensives, resulting in a tense military situation. However, it is assessed that the junta’s main objective is to use force to clear key communication routes within Mon State to ensure security before the commencement of parliament, and that battles are likely to continue.
