The Burmese military launched an airstrike as it battled for control over a strategic outpost in a Thai-Myanmar border town.

Footage shows a fighter plane hovering over the Ukaritha Camp in the Myawaddy township of Myanmar on June 27 amid fighting between state forces and troops of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO).

Skirmishes reportedly erupted on June 25 and have continued for four days as militants tried to wrest control of the stronghold from the junta. Terrified Burmese residents have fled to neighbouring villages in Thailand for shelter.

Both sides reportedly suffered casualties, but the exact number is still unclear.

KNDO officer Bo Salone, in an interview with Radio Free Asia, said: 'They have been bombing [us] with military aircraft for three days. Nine times yesterday and 10 more times today. We have casualties on our side and there have been many casualties on the regime's side too. The number of casualties is still unknown because the fighting has not finished yet.

'We are still fighting and the military aircraft are still overhead. The battle is still going on. The military council troops fled their camp yesterday and came back with reinforcements.'

Myanmar has been ravaged by protests, violent crackdowns and rebel uprisings following the ousting of democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a military coup in February 2021.