Anti-junta fighters capture air, artillery bases in Kachin State

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) claimed in a statement on Monday to have captured two of the military’s artillery battalion bases and an airfield in Bhamo Township, Kachin State after days of fighting. Members of the KIA, the Kachin People’s Defence Force (KPDF), and other allied groups initially launched attacks on Bhamo Township and neighbouring Mansi Township in December. The offensive intensified in the last week of January after several weeks of slower progress earlier in the month. The junta’s Artillery Battalion (AB) 366 and AB 6007 bases fell to the KIA-led forces on January 26 following two days of clashes. The anti-junta fighters’ attacks on the army’s Military Operations Command (MOC) 21 headquarters near Bhamo’s airfield are ongoing, according to KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu. “We haven’t gotten any report about the capture of MOC 21,” Col. Naw Bu confirmed on Monday evening. “Yes, we are attacking, and we have already secured the airbase. Our alliance of forces has taken up positions there, but we have not yet taken over MOC 21.” Video clips circulating on social media showed members of the KIA and KPDF forces on the grounds of the airfield in Bhamo, with burning buildings visible behind them and the sounds of gunfire in the distance. Bhamo has previously served as a stronghold for the military, and is home to two infantry battalion bases, two artillery battalion bases, one armoured and one tank battalion base, as well as five other bases and the MOC 21 headquarters. KIA and KPDF members at the Bhamo airfield While the KIA-led forces have captured several junta bases already, they are still fighting with the junta forces in control of the Infantry Battalion (IB) 47 base and MOC 21. “Our forces have entered several wards in the town and are keeping a close watch on many junta camps. However, I’m not ready to confirm the full extent of our control,” Col. Naw Bu said. Fierce clashes were ongoing as of Monday morning. The KIA and KPDF forces were trying to drive what was left of the junta garrison out of the MOC 21, according to a local source with connections to the KIA. Despite the KIA spokesperson’s assessment that the battle was still in progress, he said he was informed that the junta forces had already lost “I heard it’s already over at MOC 21 and they are conducting a clearance operation,” the man said. The military has reportedly escalated aerial bombing to support its ground forces in the area, as well as deploying drones and maintaining a steady barrage of artillery fire. “Airstrikes continued throughout the day, just as they did yesterday, with the junta’s aircraft dropping bombs from morning till night,” the local man said. The airstrikes and shelling caused fires in several of Bhamo’s urban wards that led to deaths and injuries, according to local aid organisations. There are few civilians remaining in Bhamo after the KIA, which was planning to resume offensive operations against the military, urged them to secure their homes and leave town last week. Earlier in the month, the KIA and its allies also resumed fighting in Mansi Township, a less populous area around 10 miles south of Bhamo. They captured the junta’s Artillery Battalion 532, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 319, and LIB 601 bases, taking full control of Mansi by January 8. The government of China, which has been pushing armed groups fighting against the military regime to suspend hostilities, has also exerted pressure on the KIA to negotiate for a ceasefire. The KIA has captured 14 towns in Kachin and northern Shan states since launching an anti-junta offensive in March of last year. However, most areas of the state are currently calm, with battles continuing only in and near Bhamo Township.

Anti-junta fighters capture air, artillery bases in Kachin State

Since resuming assaults in Bhamo last week, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies appear close to taking over a junta operations command headquarters in the town

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