Hello everyone, and welcome to m.CDM Domestic News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s main stories include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will also bring you other important developments from across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regional sources say Lieutenant General Baw Kyaw Heh has taken over as Commander-in-Chief of the Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, after General Saw Johnny retired due to health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Karen National Union\u2019s Central Executive Committee reportedly approved the appointment in mid-July following a recommendation from its defense department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brigadier General Lay Taw, commander of KNLA Brigade 3, has been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources say the leadership change is not expected to bring major changes to military strategy, as senior commanders will continue making decisions collectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baw Kyaw Heh is widely regarded as a popular Karen leader and a strong opponent of the military regime. He has frequently called for unity among Karen people and resistance organizations and has urged revolutionary groups to review past weaknesses and take responsibility for achieving their common goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resistance forces attacked three junta-held positions in Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region, reportedly killing five soldiers, according to Myingyan District Battalion No. 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the morning of July 17, resistance fighters first used a drone to drop explosives on troops stationed in Khat Lan Village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They later carried out guerrilla attacks against junta forces stationed at Pyin Si Police Station, a school compound, and Thein Bala Village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The resistance said five junta soldiers were killed, several others were injured, and one military drone was seized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operations were led by Myingyan District Battalion No. 4, with Battalion No. 10 also taking part in the Khat Lan Village attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Hakha, Chin State, members of CDF-Hakha shot and killed a junta police battalion commander and his personal assistant on July 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The victims were identified as Deputy Police Colonel Zaw Zaw Aung, commander of Police Battalion No. 14, and his aide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were reportedly attacked while traveling to work by motorcycle. Resistance fighters said they seized a Glock pistol and mobile phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the incident, junta forces blocked roads in and out of Hakha and tightened security across the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Separately, resistance forces in Thayetkon Township, Bago Region, said they shot and killed a member of the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local PDF accused him of extorting civilians, collecting money under the pretext of military conscription, reporting residents to the junta, and assisting in arrests and forced recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The military carried out another airstrike on villages in Gwa Township, Rakhine State, on the evening of July 17, according to local sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two fighter jets reportedly dropped three bombs on Shwe Yakhine Village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One bomb exploded near the beach, while two others landed in a coconut plantation. The explosions damaged the walls of a village school, destroyed coconut trees, and injured one cow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents say the military has been carrying out almost daily airstrikes on flood-affected villages in Gwa Township and has also fired artillery from naval vessels offshore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in July, the military reportedly dropped more than 50 bombs on villages in the township. Another airstrike on July 10 reportedly killed four civilians and injured one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The KNU says junta forces used a kamikaze drone to bomb Kwin Thit Village in Tanintharyi Township.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attack reportedly took place on the afternoon of July 17 and was launched by Infantry Battalion No. 561.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of the village school building was damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The KNU said no fighting was taking place in the area at the time and accused the military of targeting civilians and public buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government held a two-day online coordination meeting with district and township public administration bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting was held on July 16 and 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Minister U Soe Oo delivered the opening remarks, followed by comments from the deputy chief minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District and township officials presented updates on local conditions and ongoing administrative work. Ministers then discussed the reports and responded to questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting was attended by the chief minister, deputy chief minister, cabinet members, the unit attorney general, and public administration officials from districts and townships across Sagaing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A total of 255 civil society organizations have called on SpaceX not to impose a blanket shutdown of Starlink satellite internet services in Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The groups said action against cyber scam networks should target only terminals linked to scam centers, rather than blocking entire regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They warned that a broad shutdown would affect civilians, hospitals, schools, humanitarian organizations, and emergency services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the joint statement, around 80 of Myanmar\u2019s 330 townships no longer have reliable phone or internet services because of conflict and communication blackouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 13 million people are believed to depend on satellite internet services such as Starlink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The groups said shutting down Starlink could disrupt emergency patient transport, telemedicine, airstrike warning systems, humanitarian work, and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They urged SpaceX to restore service to terminals not connected to scam operations and to work with Myanmar civil society organizations to identify suspicious terminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SpaceX reportedly disabled about 2,500 terminals linked to scam centers near the Thai-Myanmar border in 2025. Civil society groups say some recent shutdowns also affected users in Magway, Sagaing, and Rakhine who were not connected to scam operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, or SAC-M, and former regional diplomats have warned that the Philippines\u2019 handling of the Myanmar crisis is failing and could damage ASEAN\u2019s credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement was issued by SAC-M, former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, and former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They criticized ASEAN\u2019s special envoy, Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro, saying her approach had weakened ASEAN\u2019s Myanmar policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They said allowing the junta\u2019s foreign minister to attend an informal ASEAN meeting in Bangkok on July 12 gave the military greater political legitimacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also argued that it weakened ASEAN\u2019s restrictions on high-level engagement with junta officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement said the envoy had failed to secure meaningful concessions from the military, including even a temporary halt to airstrikes against civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group urged ASEAN to engage not only with the junta but also with the National Unity Government, ethnic resistance organizations, civil society groups, Rohingya representatives, and other ethnic communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They called on ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila from July 20 to 22 to restore restrictions on high-level contacts with the junta, fully implement the Five-Point Consensus, and establish a clearer framework for addressing Myanmar\u2019s political crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That concludes today\u2019s m.CDM Domestic News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s reports were contributed by Ko Thit and Lu Lay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please subscribe to our channel for the latest news and updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hello everyone, and welcome to m.CDM Domestic News. Today\u2019s main stories include: We will also bring you other important developments from across the country. Regional sources say Lieutenant General Baw Kyaw Heh has taken over as Commander-in-Chief of the Karen…<\/p>\n