Operation 1111
Part of the Myanmar civil war
Kayah State
Date 11 November 2023 - present (2 months and 6 days) Location Loikaw, Kayah State Status Ongoing Territorial changes More than half of Loikaw captured by anti-junta forces[1]
Belligerents
Tatmadaw	Karenni ethnic armed organizations Karenni National People's Liberation Front Karenni Army Karenni Nationalities Defence Force People's Defence Force[2]
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Khun Bedu Marwi Lin Lin
Units involved
Tatmadaw 54th Infantry Battalion 261st Infantry Battalion 250th Infantry Battalion 362nd Artillery Battalion 722nd Logistic Company 7th Military Hospital[1]	KNDF KA Demoso PDF Phekon PDF Moe Bye PDF Loikaw PDF Various Local PDF NUG Central Command[1]
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
300+ killed[3]	50+ killed[3]
82+ civilians[1][3] dead and 40,000 displaced [2]

Operation 1111 (Burmese: ၁၁၁၁ စစ်ဆင်ရေး, also referred to as the 2023 Battle of Loikaw) is an ongoing military operation 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.^[4]

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 28 November 2023, fighting is ongoing.^[5]

Background

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.^[6] Between 6 January - 8 February 2022 there was a battle fought for Loikaw, which ended inconclusively. Another battle in 2021 ended in a ceasefire.

Before the start of the battle, the junta had two battalions deployed there to defend the city.^[7]

Fighting

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.^[8][6]

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."^[9]

By 15 November, there were reports of heavy fighting in Loikaw, with many civilians still trapped in their homes amid the ongoing fighting.^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^{[7] [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.^[1] The fighting had reached the downtown of Loikaw by 23 November.^[12] 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.^[13][14] 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.^[15]

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.^[16] 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.^[17]

On 10 December, the KNDF took control of the main police headquarters in Loikaw.^[18] 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."^[19] By 18 December, anti-junta forces were reported to have control of 85% of Loikaw.^[20]

In early January it was reported fighting was continuing, with statements by Ko Banyar; “In Karenni State, clashes occur every day in Demoso, Hpruso and Loikaw. Since the beginning of Operation 1111, we have been fighting continuously in Pekon, Moe Bye and Loikaw, seizing Moe Bye and Shwe Pyi Aye. Pekon is very important for the junta strategically". This also seems to indicate persons involved have dropped the distinction between Operation 1107 and Operation 1111, classifying all fighting under one operation instead of two.^[21]

References