The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied forces began fighting in Bhamo, Kachin State, just 40 miles from the Chinese border, on December 4, and the fighting is still intense, a Kachin military source said. The offensive to capture the entire Bhamo town and Mansi regions of Kachin State began this morning and the fighting is still intense, a KIA source said this evening. The KIA and its allies simultaneously attacked the Military council’s barracks in Bhamo town and the remaining Military council barracks in Mansi, and captured some security outposts in Bhamo town, the source said.
Asked about the war situation until late at night, the Kachin source said, “The battle for Bhamo town is still fierce. They are resisting the attack on Bhamo town.” He also said that the Military council is not in a position to provide ground support to Bhamo town. Fighting continues to rage around Bhamo town, Kachin State, with at least 10 civilians killed in the past two days, according to Bhamo residents.
Since December 4, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been attacking all military bases between Bhamo and Mansi, capturing seven outposts and continuing the fighting. On the other hand, there have been civilian casualties due to artillery shelling in some areas outside the city, according to a Bhamo resident.
A KIA source also said that the military situation is critical and that it is impossible to give specific information, and that the military council must be aware of the possibility of air strikes. “We know some news, but we cannot say anything. The media should understand that,” the KIA source said.
U Zaw San, a military and political analyst in the Kachin region, said, “The fighting may continue to rage. The main thing is that the SSA needs to be especially careful with the air.” He continued to contact Colonel Naw Bu, the head of the KIA Information Department, regarding the situation in Bhamo and Mansi.
Bhamo is home to the 21st Military Operations Command, 47th Battalion, 236th Battalion, 933rd Logistics Battalion, 11th Field Medical Battalion, 5th Signal Battalion, 366th Artillery Battalion, 314th Artillery Battalion, 7006th Armored Battalion, 5014th Tank Battalion, 914th Engineer Battalion, 944th Construction Engineer Battalion, and the Military Security Battalion.
A military source estimated the number of Military Council troops in Bhamo at 2,500. Last June, a joint KIA force attacked some Military Council camps in Bhamo. The KIA has warned residents to be on high alert. The KIA currently controls Mansi and has also taken control of Momauk, a town near Bhamo.
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