At the Mae Sot border, ongoing fighting between Myanmar and Karen forces has caused bullets to cross into Thai territory. Local residents fear being caught in stray fire and have built their own bunkers for safety. Meanwhile, Thai soldiers have issued warning shots and sent official letters.
At 6:10 a.m. on 2 Feb 2026, reporters from the border area of Ban Mae Kon Ken, Maha Wan Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, reported that from late afternoon to early evening on 1 Feb, both small and large caliber bullets crossed into Thailand. This followed continuous fighting between Myanmar's 22nd Light Infantry Division and the Karen National Union (KNU) troops at Min La Pa village, Myawaddy District, Karen State, Myanmar.
This resulted in rifle and machine gun bullets crossing into Thailand at the home of Mr. Nai, a Myanmar national with no surname, in Moo 9, Ban Mae Kon Ken, Maha Wan Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak. A bullet casing was found in the dirt yard beside the house, leaving a hole about 10 centimeters deep. Additionally, the house's side wall showed marks from a machine gun bullet grazing it, and dust fragments were scattered on the wooden floor inside the house.
Mr. Lan Boonwong, a nearby resident of Ban Mae Kon Ken, told reporters that his house had been similarly hit before, forcing him to build a bunker as a shelter. He pointed out damage where machine gun bullets had pierced the staircase and another spot where a bullet struck the concrete wall behind the bathroom while he was shampooing, causing plaster to scatter onto his head. He had to place sandbags to build a bunker to protect against machine gun fire coming directly toward the Thai side. He noted that unlike drone-dropped bombs which fall vertically, machine gun bullets travel parallel to the ground.
Thai soldiers have sent official letters through the local Thai-Myanmar border committee (TBC) and have also fired warning shots.
