Operation 1111

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This article is about the 2023 siege of Loikaw. For the general rebel operation in Kayah State, see Operation 1107.

Operation 1111
Part of the Myanmar civil war
Date11 November 2023 – present
(5 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Loikaw, Kayah State
Status Ongoing
Territorial
changes		 More than half of Loikaw captured by anti-junta forces[3]
Belligerents
 Tatmadaw

Karenni ethnic armed organizations led by the Karenni State Interim Executive Council[1]

Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Aye Min Naung † (commander of the 44th Light Infantry Division)[4]
Units involved

Tatmadaw

  • 54th Infantry Battalion
  • 261st Infantry Battalion
  • 250th Infantry Battalion
  • 362nd Artillery Battalion
  • 722nd Logistic Company
  • 7th Military Hospital[3]
  • KNDF
  • KA
  • Demoso PDF
  • Phekon PDF
  • Moe Bye PDF
  • Loikaw PDF
  • Various Local PDF
  • NUG Central Command[3]
    • Strength
    Unknown Unknown
    Casualties and losses
    300+ killed, 63 captured (per anti-junta forces)[5] 50+ killed[6]
    500+ civilians killed and 350,000 internally displaced[7]

    Operation 1111 (Burmese: ၁၁၁၁ စစ်ဆင်ရေး) is an ongoing military operation in Myanmar launched by Karenni Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) including the Karenni Army (KA), Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF). The operation was launched concurrently with Operation 1107, with the goal to capture Kayah State's capital city of Loikaw.[8]

    Around 35,000 people have reportedly been displaced due to the recent fighting in Kayah state. Tatmadaw troops have reacted to the offensive by erecting roadblocks in and around Loikaw. As of 7 January 2024, fighting is ongoing.[9]

    Background[edit]

    Further information: Battle of Loikaw (2021) and Battle of Loikaw (2022)

    Loikaw has been described as the military's nerve center for Kayah State. Its loss could jeopardize the regime's control of much of Kayah State.[8] Loikaw has been the site of multiple battles during the civil war: first a battle in 2021 that ended in a ceasefire, then another battle in January-February 2022 that ended inconclusively.

    Before the start of the 2023 battle, the junta had two battalions deployed there to defend the city.[1]

    Fighting[edit]

    Starting at 4:00am on 11 November, KNDF and KA forces started attacking military bases around Loikaw in an operation dubbed "Operation 1111". The coalition forces captured seven military bases and shot down an aircraft.[10][8]

    By 13 November, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) claimed it had taken several positions of the Tatmadaw. It was also reported that 16 civilians had died in the fighting by that time. The Irrawaddy reported that "volunteers estimate that around 35,000 people—including people displaced by previous conflicts—need to evacuate from Loikaw as a result of the recent fighting. The town is usually home to 50,000 residents. The capital is also the junta’s key stronghold and center of administrative control in Kayah State."[11]

    By 15 November, there were reports of heavy fighting in Loikaw, with many civilians still trapped in their homes amid the ongoing fighting.[12] More than 34 civilians were killed, and 50 were injured in Loikaw from retaliatory strikes from the junta's forces. During the fighting, 110 junta soldiers were killed with 38 surrendering.[13]

    By 18 November, the EAOs further gained control in Loikaw, including the Loikaw District Court and Loikaw University. The groups took 38 prisoners of war, who surrendered after the rebels cornered them before any air support could arrive. It was reported the number of displaced civilians had reached 40,000 and at least 50 dead.[1][2]

    On 22 November it was reported that 315+ fighters and civilians on both sides had died during the first 10 days of Operation 1111 and that 100,800 people had been in displaced Kayah state, with 40,000 of those from Loikaw. The KNDF claimed to have taken further outposts from the Tatmadaw.[3] The fighting had reached the downtown of Loikaw by 23 November.[14] In an interview with The Irrawaddy on 28 November, the KNDF's deputy commander-in-chief Marwi claimed that the rebels already controlled 80% of Kayah state and had surrounded Loikaw, where an interim Karenni government was being established.[15][16] With its ground forces in Kayah State weakened, on 29 November, the junta began to resort to airstrikes against Loikaw. In a report to the State Administration Council, Chairman Min Aung Hlaing claimed that the Tatmadaw had retaken the city, but these claims were denied the following day by Marwi.[17]

    Lin Lin, a leader of the People's Defence Force in Kayah, stated that most of his fighters had been motivated to take Loikaw as they are from the city and wanted to return to their homes; while reporting that the Tatmadaw was on the defensive. On 2 December, KNDF chairman Khun Bedu reported that the Tatmadaw had retreated to the city police station.[18] By this time, the military regime's administration was reportedly no longer functional in the city. Loikaw’s Naung Yar and Daw Au Khu residential wards saw ongoing clashes and rebel forces claimed to have captured 50 soldiers and several weapons and ammunition.[19]

    On 10 December, the KNDF took control of the main police headquarters in Loikaw.[20] On 11 December the Irrawaddy stated "The regime’s Regional Command Center, Loikaw General Hospital, Nursing and Midwife School, the State Government Office and some religious buildings are still occupied by junta troops, according to resistance forces."[6] By 18 December, anti-junta forces were reported to have control of 85% of Loikaw.[21]

    On 7 January, the Karenni rebel forces launched an offensive against Pekon. By the following day, they had captured the police station, as well as state and government offices, bringing most of the city under their control. More than two-thirds of the town's population fled the fighting. Ko Banyar additionally reported that fighting was continuing in towns throughout the state.[22]

    Mawchi has fallen to Karenni forces as of 29 January. Mawchi was taken by Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, which is an effort towards Taungoo where Karen National Union is already fighting. Thus the efforts in Kayah and Bago are linked. Fighting where reported in Mobye, Demoso and Loikaw. With 2/3 of Loikaw controlled by the Karenni forces.[23] On 29 January, KNLA and PDF forces shot down a Tatmadaw Eurocopter AS365 with machine guns, sniper rifles, and RPGs as it was landing. Brigadier General Aye Min Naung of the 44th Light Infantry Division and the pilot were among the five recorded casualties.[4]

    Post-Fighting[edit]

    In early March it was reported that most homes of those who fled the fighting had been looted in Loikaw.[24] There were also reports of trials of Loikaw University personnel for having colluded with the regime, including Loikaw University Rector U Aung Khin Myint.[24][25]

    Humanitarian impact[edit]

    Since the start of the operation, more than 80% of the state's population has been internally displaced. The group Progressive Karenni People reported that the junta had destroyed "46 religious buildings, 22 schools, 14 hospitals and 2,281 homes" in the state since 1 January 2024. Ko Banyar reported that more than 500 people have been killed in the shelling.[7]

    References[edit]

    1. ^ a b c Kyaw Kha (28 November 2023). "Operation 1111 'Close to Securing All of Kayah State for Myanmar Resistance'". The Irrawaddy.
    2. ^ a b "Kayah Resistance Groups Claim Victories Over Myanmar Junta". The Irrawaddy. 18 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
    3. ^ a b c d "Over 200 Junta Soldiers Killed in 10-Day Battle for Myanmar's Loikaw: KNDF". The Irrawaddy. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
    4. ^ a b https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/in-karen-state-another-myanmar-junta-chopper-shot-down.html
    5. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/14/myanmar-war-military-rebels-surrenders/
    6. ^ a b "Karenni Resistance Marks Successful Month of Attacks on Myanmar Junta". The Irrawaddy. 11 December 2023.
    7. ^ a b Wei, Brian (17 January 2024). "More Than 80% of The Population of Myanmar's Karenni State Has Been Displaced by War". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
    8. ^ a b c Irrawaddy, The (14 November 2023). "Tens of Thousands Trapped as Myanmar Resistance Strikes Kayah State Capital". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    9. ^ "New Surge of Displaced People Since the Launch of Operation 1111". Burma News International. 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
    10. ^ "စစ်ကောင်စီတိုက်လေယာဉ် ၁စင်း ပစ်ခတ်ခံရပြီး ပျက်ကျ". DVB (in Burmese). 12 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
    11. ^ "Karenni Armed Group Seizes Seven Myanmar Junta Bases Since Saturday". The Irrawaddy. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
    12. ^ "Civilians trapped amid fighting in Myanmar's Kayah state". Union of Catholic Asian News. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
    13. ^ Irrawaddy, The (15 November 2023). "Kayah Resistance Seizes Myanmar Junta Bases in State Capital". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
    14. ^ "Battle For Control of Myanmar State Capital Escalating at 'Alarming Rate'". The Irrawaddy. 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
    15. ^ Kha, Kyaw (28 November 2023). "Operation 1111 'Close to Securing All of Kayah State for Myanmar Resistance'". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
    16. ^ "Junta's Administration Ousted From Karenni State- Loikaw still a war-zone". BNI Online. 29 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023.
    17. ^ "Myanmar Junta Relying on Airstrikes in Loikaw Fighting: Resistance". The Irrawaddy. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
    18. ^ "Myanmar pro-democracy fighters battle to take state capital". Agence France-Presse. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via Digital Journal.
    19. ^ "Clashes, Fires Rage in Loikaw as Resistance Continues Push to Oust Myanmar Junta Forces".
    20. ^ https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/myanmar-junta-loses-over-a-dozen-troops-more-bases-in-three-days-of-resistance-attacks.html
    21. ^ https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/resistance-forces-claim-control-of-85-percent-of-karenni-state-capital/
    22. ^ Wei, Brian (12 January 2024). "Karenni Resistance Says It Controls Most of Pekon in Myanmar's Southern Shan". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
    23. ^ https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-troops-relinquish-another-town-to-advancing-karenni-forces.html
    24. ^ a b https://ktnews.org/residents-expressed-organized-gangs-rampantly-loot-vacant-homes-in-loikaw-city-with-no-reporting-outlets-available/
    25. ^ https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/karenni-interim-executive-council-sentences-five-lecturers-including-loikaw-university-rector
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