Myanmar junta using conscripts in ‘human wave’ attacks, says KIA

Myanmar’s military is suffering heavy casualties, largely among newly recruited conscripts, as it attempts to send reinforcements to the town of Shwegu in Kachin State, according to Kachin Independence Army (KIA) sources. Junta forces have been advancing toward Shwegu from Ngar Oe, a village just across Kachin State’s border with northern Shan State, since early May. The push is seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen the regime’s positions in Bhamo, a key battleground roughly 30 miles east of Shwegu. The KIA and allied forces have reported repeated clashes with junta troops in multiple areas around Shwegu, including junctions south and southeast of the town and near Taw Hlan, a village about seven miles to the east. Military convoys advancing from Ngar Oe have also been ambushed, according to KIA sources. A KIA military source said junta columns continue to advance despite sustained losses. “They repeatedly fall back, regroup, and advance again. They don’t retreat far—it’s like a ‘human wave’ tactic,” the source said, alleging that conscripts are being used in high-risk assaults. “Their casualties are very high, mainly among civilian conscripts,” the source said. “They are pushing conscripts into what are effectively suicide missions.” On Tuesday, regime forces launched an early morning offensive east of Shwegu at around 4am, triggering heavy fighting with KIA-led resistance forces. The group said junta troops suffered significant casualties and that some prisoners of war and ammunition were captured. Repeated airstrikes were carried out in the same area until the afternoon, KIA sources said. The strikes were reportedly launched from airbases in Tada-U, Meiktila and Homalin, using jet fighters supported by Y-12 aircraft. KIA information officer Col. Naw Bu confirmed that clashes took place on Tuesday as well as the previous day, when he said the junta deployed a Y-12 aircraft to drop around 20 bombs. The KIA warned residents on June 8 to evacuate Shwegu as fighting intensified. Local residents said some civilians fled, though most remain in the town. The conflict around Shwegu is linked to fighting in Bhamo, where the KIA and allied forces have been conducting sustained attacks since December 2024, with heavy combat continuing. Previously, the military sent reinforcements to Bhamo along the Ayeyarwady River. It is now attempting to move additional troops overland through Shwegu, reportedly deploying large numbers of conscripts recruited under the junta’s People’s Military Service Law.

Myanmar junta using conscripts in ‘human wave’ attacks, says KIA

The group says the regime is sustaining heavy losses as it attempts to send reinforcements to Shwegu in Kachin State

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