Mae Hong Son alert over possible Myanmar air strikes on Karen forces
Mae Sam Laep residents have been advised to stay indoors, with some moving away from the river as Thai troops step up patrols along the Salween.
- An official in Thailand's Mae Hong Son province has alerted residents of Mae Sam Laep village to possible Myanmar air strikes against Karen forces near the border, based on a warning from the Karen National Union (KNU).
- In response to the threat, Thai residents have been urged to take shelter, and the Thai military has increased 24-hour surveillance and patrols along the Salween River.
- The alert was prompted by Karen military intelligence reports that Myanmar is using reconnaissance drones to gather information for targeting Karen forces.
- Karen forces have been ordered to halt movements and remain in reinforced bunkers in preparation for the potential attacks.
Phongpipat Meebenjamas, head of Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Sop Moei district, Mae Hong Son province, has alerted residents of Mae Sam Laep village to possible renewed Myanmar air strikes against Karen forces near the Thai border.
He said on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) that he had received the information from the Karen National Union (KNU) on the evening of November 2.
The precise locations of the possible attacks were unknown.
In a renewed warning, Phongpipat urged border communities along the Salween River to remain calm, stay alert and shelter indoors ahead of possible night-time attacks.
Some Mae Sam Laep residents subsequently left their riverside homes to stay overnight with relatives further inside the village, away from the border, to reduce the risk from Myanmar bombs.
Rangers from the 36th Ranger Regiment, based at Thep Sing Camp, have been patrolling the Salween River by boat from Mae Sam Laep village in Sop Moei district to Tha Ta Fang village in Mae Khong subdistrict, Mae Sariang district.
Local military units have stepped up 24-hour surveillance and river patrols to monitor and assess the situation closely.
Troops have also been deployed to prevent violations of Thai sovereignty and protect residents' lives and property to the best of their ability, with the aim of reassuring communities on both sides of the border.
Mae Sam Laep residents remained anxious about the threat and were convinced that Myanmar forces would attack Karen forces along the Salween River.
Karen forces of the KNU and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have been ordered to prepare for Myanmar air strikes.
Personnel have been instructed to halt movements and remain in bunkers reinforced to withstand large bombs dropped by Myanmar fighter jets.
Karen military intelligence reported that Myanmar forces had used reconnaissance drones to monitor Karen troop deployments and the movements of Karen civilians travelling to trade with Thai residents at Mae Sam Laep.
It said the aim was to gather information to send to the Myanmar Air Force for air strikes against Karen forces.
