Thousands of residents have fled the town of Hpakant in Myanmar’s Kachin State as clashes intensify between junta forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) along with its allies, according to the ethnic group and locals.
KIA and the People’s Defense Force (PDF), aligned with Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government, launched attacks in Singtawn village, located five kilometers south of Hpakant on September 7, Irrawaddy reports.
According to KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu, the situation in Singtawn worsened after junta troops retreated to the Lucky Min Hotel as KIA forces surrounded the area. In response, junta forces began bombarding Singtawn with artillery and conducting airstrikes almost daily.
Singtawn, a major jade trading hub with a population of over 100,000, has been a focal point of the conflict.
In response to KIA attacks, the junta carried out a bombing raid on Ward 4 of the village, with two fighter jets striking the area around noon on Sunday.
Over 200 homes in Singtawn have been destroyed in the past three weeks, and thousands of residents have fled to neighboring villages and towns.
The KIA has blocked all routes in Hpakant Township, potentially escalating fighting in the coming days, warned Colonel Naw Bu.
Meanwhile, junta naval vessels traveling up the Irrawaddy River to reinforce military bases in Kachin State have come under heavy attack.
By Sunday, at least five naval vessels carrying weapons, equipment, and reinforcements from Mandalay to Bhamo had been destroyed, according to Naw Bu. He added that only one vessel, accompanied by two small security boats, successfully reached Bhamo on September 18.
Junta airstrikes hit Lashio
Myanmar junta’s air force unleashed deadly airstrikes on civilian areas in Lashio, the northern Shan State capital, early Tuesday morning.
The attack, which used 500-lb bombs, killed one civilian and injured more than a dozen, according to the Lashio Reconstruction group, a coalition working to rebuild the war-torn city.
The group, formed by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), reported that two bombs were dropped on hotels at 1:30am followed by another attack at 4am that targeted nearby areas.
The strikes caused extensive damage, destroying hotel buildings and civilian homes. The MNDAA recently gained control of Lashio city and the Kokang Self-Administered Zone from junta forces, making the city a key target for regime airstrikes.
