Operation 1111
Operation 1111 is an ongoing military operation in Myanmar launched by Karenni Ethnic Armed Organisations including the Karenni Army, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and Karenni National People's Liberation Front. The operation was launched concurrently with Operation 1107, with the goal to capture Kayah State's capital city of Loikaw.
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., fighting is ongoing.
Name and scope of the article
The first Karenni concurrent operation that was announced were Operation 1107, with fighting reported in places like Mese outside Loikaw. Shortly afterwards, in November 2023, Operation 1111 was announced for Loikaw.By February–March most sources were already using Operation 1111, though the Washington Post used "The battle for Loikaw" for operation 1111 and "October offensive" for Operation 1027.
As of June–July 2024 most sources seem to have defaulted to using exclusively Operation 1111 for all Kayah/Karenni State related fighting. Pro-Tatmadaw sources use generic terms to describe the karenni fighters as "terrorists".
By August 2024, even some pro-Tatmadaw sources had started employing the term Operation 1111, though in combination with the generic label terrorist.
The term has been used as of November 2024, despite changes on the battlefields since the launch of Operation 1111. The term still seeing usage as of March 2025.
June 2025, Operation 1111 is mentioned in past-tense, in reference to first phase of this article.
Term seeing use as of September 2025. As of October 2025, the term is used in past-tense, this time alluding up to and including the intensification phase, past the first phase, by counting "Although they failed to capture Loikaw, they seized several towns" indicating the later phase when several towns were captured.
What is also noteworthy is the sources keep using Operation 1111 for the fighting in Kayah since November 2023, when earlier there were articles for separate battles of Loikaw for the separate bouts of fighting, like Battle of Loikaw and Battle of Loikaw.
In May 2024 the Tatmadaw begun and still by August 2025 Tatmadaw were launching its own Operation Yan Naing Min named Operation partially overlapping with Operation 1111.
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 the state. It has been the site of multiple battles during the civil war: the first battle in 2021 that ended in a ceasefire, and another battle in January–February 2022 that ended inconclusively.Before the start of the 2023 battle, the junta had two battalions deployed to defend the city.
Fighting
Karenni offensive
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.By 13 November, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force claimed it had taken several positions of the Tatmadaw. It was also reported that a total of 16 civilians had died in the fighting. 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."
By 15 November, there were reports of heavy fighting in Loikaw, with many civilians still trapped in their homes amid the ongoing fighting. 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 and 38 surrendered.
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.
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.
The fighting had reached the downtown of Loikaw by 23 November. 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. 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.
Reports emerging in August 2025 stating Demoso town was captured by the Karenni by November 2023.
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. 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.
On the 9th, Pyu Township was also reported to be under attack by insurgents. Pekon Township that neighbors Kayah State, but is in Shan State is also seeing fighting, with Demoso and Loikaw continuing seeing combat.
On 10 December, the KNDF took control of the main police headquarters in Loikaw.
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." By 18 December, anti-junta forces were reported to have control of 85% of Loikaw.
As of 15 December, fighting in Mobye is continuing and the insurgents claim to have taken 75% of the town. At least 5 civilians were reported to have been killed as a result of the fighting, with much of the town abandoned by the civilians. The casualties of fighting in Mobye include 11 Tatmadaw and 9 insurgent soldiers killed.
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.
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 was reported in Mobye, Demoso and Loikaw. With 2/3 of Loikaw controlled by the Karenni forces.
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.
Stalling of offensive
In February 2024, reports emerged that the Karenni resistance fight for Loikaw city was stalling. Life was continuing in the outskirts of Loikaw while the downtown area was depopulated. Markets, farming, and small businesses were opening in area's on the outskirts. During this time the KNDF was consolidating control over much of Kayah since the Tatmadaw were sending reinforcements to Loikaw from elsewhere in Kayah. At this time, the Karenni resistance were still urging civilians not to return to Loikaw during the fighting.The Irrawaddy reported in July 2024, that the offensive to take Loikaw had seen little progress since the Karenni took the Loikaw University.
Escalation
In March 2024, Al Jazeera reported a counter estimate on how much of Loikaw the Karenni forces actually control, stating "About half the city, controlled by the military since the coup, is now in the hands of the Karenni resistance". They further stated that the fighting in Kayah was escalating, with Demoso, Mese, Shadaw and Ywar Thit fully in Karenni control. Khu Reedu was the commander who took Shadaw for the Karennis. Shadaw also saw harsh fighting. Khu Reedu claimed Tatmadaw took 180 casualties dead, while the Karenni only 9 in the fight for Shadaw with 6 civilians dead.There were also reports of fighting in Pasaung. Al Jazeera also reported that Tatmadaw are increasingly using military planes to bombard Karenni positions. In June Channel 4 reported the Karenni were using customized drones to fight the military.
Karenni forces captured Hpasawng and most of Hpasawng Township on 14 March. On 4 May, Karenni forces launched an offensive on the last remaining junta forces in Hpasawng Township, killing 20 junta soldiers.
Tatmadaw counter offensive
On 29 May it was reported the Karenni were putting up intense resistance at several points of the route to Loikaw the Military is taking. Tatmadaw named this counter-offensive Operation Yan Naing Min.On 30 May 2024 the Irrawaddy reported the Tatmadaw had mounted an advance towards Loikaw. They also stated that the Karenni control 80% of Loikaw, meaning the control had increased from 2/3 to 4/5 of Loikaw since January. With the Tatmadaw force being at Kayan Tha Yar with the direction towards at the capital, while stating fighting in Loikaw itself was continuing daily. By 3 June, the 500 soldier column had reached the Loikaw-Mobye-Hsi Hseng intersection, known as the Kayantharyar intersection.
During 22 June, it was reported that Tatmadaw had lost military bases in Mobye, Demoso, Shadaw, Ywar Thit, Nammekon, Mawchi and Mese since the start of the operation.
On 1 July, junta forces began attacking KNDF positions south of Pinlaung, attempting to relieve the Karenni siege on Pekon.