Myanmar Airstrike on Karen Base Damages Thai Buildings, Forces Evacuation

Myanmar air force jets bombed the Salayta camp opposite Ban Mae Sam Laep, damaging the Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital and SAO meeting hall, prompting officials to order villagers to evacuate the area amid heavy rain.

On November 1, 2026, Pongpipat Mibenchamas, Chief of the Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) in Sop Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province, revealed that on October 31 at approximately 7:20 PM, while he and SAO staff were overseeing construction of a viewpoint along the Salween River at Ban Mae Sam Laep, Myanmar military aircraft dropped two bombs on the Salayta stronghold of the Karen National Union (KNU) directly across from the Mae Sam Laep pier. The blasts damaged homes, the health station, and the SAO meeting hall, forcing residents to flee. Heavy rain was falling at the time.

Kamphan Mokthaisong, Sop Moei District Chief, stated that after the bombing he ordered Village Health Volunteers from Sop Moei Unit 7 (Huay Kong Kad) together with the 3608 Ranger Company (Mae Sam Laep Base) and Mae Sam Laep SAO to inspect buildings damaged by the airstrike on the Salayta base across from Ban Mae Sam Laep at 7:00 PM. Damage included:

- Ban Mae Sam Laep Health Promoting Hospital: 4 window panes, 4 door panes broken; ceiling collapsed - Salween Meeting Hall (Mae Sam Laep SAO): 2 door panes broken - Ban Mae Sam Laep Church: 1 window pane broken; ceiling collapsed

On November 1, further surveys of schools and homes will be conducted to compile damage for assistance.

The Salayta base was originally a Myanmar army camp seized by KNU Brigade 5 on April 27, 2021. As of October 31, Myanmar forces have returned to bomb the camp again. Casualties among KNU troops inside the camp remain unknown.