Only one of 20 junta flotilla vessels able to return from Bhamo: KIA

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) destroyed a junta warship on the Ayeyarwady River as it was returning from reinforcing troops in Bhamo on Monday morning, the KIA confirmed. KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu said that the regime warship, which was one of four vessels traveling south from Bhamo, was destroyed near Zinbon, a village in Kachin State's Shwegu Township. An intelligence officer from KIA Brigade 8 sent a photograph of a burning ship to Myanmar Now, confirming the attack. The intelligence officer also said that a junta lieutenant colonel from the Bhamo-based Military Operations Command 21 and a battalion commander from Light Infantry Battalion 320 were onboard the ship, but managed to escape on lifeboats. However, Col. Naw Bu stated that details regarding the officers onboard the ship could not yet be confirmed. During the past two weeks, the KIA has managed to sink 10 junta vessels travelling to reinforce troops in Bhamo, their spokesperson said. However, Myanmar Now has not been able to independently verify this figure. On August 21, approximately 20 junta vessels, including seven warships, departed Mandalay and travelled up the Ayeyarwady River, destined for Bhamo. When the flotilla reached the narrow stretch of river known as the Second Defile between Shwegu and Bhamo on September 2, the KIA and allied forces intercepted 14 of the vessels, including four warships. They later attacked another three warships and an iron hulled vessel in Katha and Shwegu townships. The KIA stated that only four of the flotilla’s 20 ships reached Bhamo. During the return of the four vessels from Bhamo, sources said that the KIA and allied forces sank one warship and damaged another during attacks on September 12 near Sarwatee and Thapyaykone villages, southwest of Bhamo. One vessel managed to sail downstream to junta-controlled Shwegu. The fourth and final vessel returning from Bhamo was destroyed by the KIA in yesterday’s battle near Zinbon on the Second Defile stretch of the Ayeyarwady, according to Col. Naw Bu.. According to the KIA intelligence officer, out of around 20 junta vessels that departed Mandalay for Bhamo, 10 were sunk, three were captured, at least five were damaged, and nearly 200 prisoners of war were captured. Following the regime flotilla’s disastrous defeat on the Ayeyarwady, the junta has begun advancing along ground routes from Shwegu toward Bhamo instead, reportedly resulting in daily clashes with KIA and allied resistance forces around Hsinhkan, Zinbon, Myalel, Shwegu, and Bhamo. According to the KIA intelligence officer, the junta has suffered heavy casualties during the fighting and many have been captured as prisoners of war. A video clip sent to Myanmar Now shows heaped piles of deceased junta soldiers. “We are attacking the columns preparing to advance from Shwegu toward Bhamo. Those guys cannot move forward; they keep getting pushed back. The fatalities there are quite high, and quite a few have been captured alive. Fighting is ongoing with battles happening every day,” the officer said. Myanmar Now made several attempts to contact junta spokesperson Khine Khine Soe to question her on the situation, but did not receive a response. The battle for Bhamo—a strategic border trade hub that hosts a port and an airport—has been ongoing for almost two years. During that time, the KIA has captured 14 towns in Kachin State, but has not yet fully captured Bhamo. The junta has relied entirely on the Ayeyarwady River to transport reinforcements from central Myanmar to Bhamo. Now that they are facing major losses on the river route, they are trying to seize Hsinhkan village to secure a land route to Bhamo.

Only one of 20 junta flotilla vessels able to return from Bhamo: KIA

Following the junta’s stunning recent defeats on the Ayeyarwady, the regime is now attempting to establish a land route to reinforce Bhamo troops instead

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