MYANMAR’s military has been forced to abandon the strategically important town of Myawaddy on the eastern border with Thailand, according to local media.

Reports claim that hundreds of government troops have surrendered to fighters from an alliance of groups opposing the regime that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Thai PBS said more than 600 Myanmar nationals, including nearly 500 officers, were attempting to enter Thailand so that they could be rescued by air and return to serve the ruling junta.