The government is attempting to retake the lumber ports of Harper and Jerbo. Some 500 troops, led by a senior police official, are headed north to the ports, which not only provide a major source of money for the government (via fees for allowing lumber to be cut), but also are where new supplies of weapons and ammunition are landed.
Meanwhile, at Harper, troops seized a second lumber ship to move some 2,000 refugees out of the port and away from advancing rebels.