BANGKOK (Reuters] – The Myanmar army launched additional airstrikes in an area controlled by rebels near Thailand’s border. It is the latest escalation to violence which has seen hundreds fleeing Thailand.

According to the Karen National Union (KNU), the military fired artillery rounds and launched at most two airstrikes on an area it controlled near the Thai-Myanmar border on Thursday night.

Mae Sot is a Thai border village about 15 km (10 mi) from the site of the air strikes. A Reuters reporter heard several explosions at night around 11 p.m. (local time).

The Myanmar military junta spokesperson did not return calls for comment.

Myanmar’s civil government was overthrown by the military on February 1st. Protests and scattered clashes have erupted between army personnel and militia.

According to Thailand’s foreign ministry, fresh fighting broke out between the KNU and Myanmar’s military last week. More than 4,200 refugees have entered Thailand from Myanmar since then. According to some civil society groups, 10,000 people are displaced.

KNU spokesman Saw Taw Nee told Reuters that the airstrikes have further displaced more civilians living in the area and repeated his group’s call for the international community to established a no-fly zone https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-rebel-group-calls-no-fly-zone-protect-civilians-2021-12-22 in the area.

At a Friday press conference, Tanee Sangrat from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry stated that Thailand is concerned by the violence that has occurred in Karen State. This incident also affected Thais living near the border.

On Friday, several foreign diplomats sent to Myanmar from Britain, the EU and the United States issued a joint declaration calling for an end of “indiscriminate attack” on Karen state by the military.

According to them, “The attacks on Karen State civilians, which included the destruction of villages, violate International Humanitarian Law” and they must be stopped.