Bangkok: The Royal Thai Air Force dispatched two F-16 fighter jets to intercept a Myanmar military YAK-130 aircraft that was deployed to drop bombs on KNLA forces. This incident has led to an increase in the number of evacuees, now totaling 377 individuals.

According to Thai News Agency, the confrontation occurred at 1:00 p.m. on May 28, 2015, when a YAK-130 aircraft from a Myanmar base launched four bombs targeting a KNLA unit near the multipurpose sports field in Ban Song See Mian, Sookari District, Myawaddy, Karen State, Myanmar. The location is approximately one kilometer from the border, opposite Morger Thai Co., Ltd. in Village No. 1, Walai Subdistrict, Phop Phra District, Tak Province. Both sides are currently engaged in sporadic clashes.

As a consequence of the fighting, 377 Myanmar refugees have sought safety in temporary shelters across three areas in Mae Sot District, Tak Province. Specifically, 318 individuals have taken refuge at Wat Morkor Thai, Village No. 1, Wale Subdistrict, 23 people are sheltered at Ban Muen Ruechai Temple, Phop Phra Subdistrict, and 36 individuals are in Ban Muen Ruechai Church, Tambon Phop Phra, Amphoe Phop Phra, Tak Province.

In response to the crisis, the Rajamanu Task Force, Naresuan Task Force, and Border Patrol Police 34, along with other relevant agencies, are ensuring the safety of the refugees and providing necessary humanitarian assistance. They have also increased patrols and brought in additional weaponry to prevent any infringement on Thai sovereignty by foreign armed forces, maintaining a 24-hour watch for the safety of the local populace.

Reporters noted that the Royal Thai Air Force acted swiftly upon detecting the Myanmar military aircraft near the Thai border, deploying the F-16MLUs to intercept the Yak-130s within the area of Phop Phra District, Tak Province at 1:05 p.m.