Kachin War Continues, Fighter Jets Drop Bombs

Kachinland News (KLN) | January 15, 2018

Battles continue unabated between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese Army in southern and western Kachin state, and northern Shan state in the past week.

In southern Kachin state, a Burmese army’s Infantry unit launched attacks against KIA 27^th Battalion’s Nam Hka Bum Post in Mansi Township on Jan 13 at 2:20 pm. KIA sources said Kai Htik-based Burmese army troops fired 3 rounds of 105 mm mortars on Nam Hka Bum and Gawk Ngu Yang-based troops fired 10 rounds of 81 mm mortars on KIA positions during the battle.

On the same day, Kachin civilian forces under KIA’s 27^th Battalion launched attacks against Burmese army troops on the road between Gawk Ngu Yang and Nam Hka village in Mansi Township around 1:40 pm, and at Hka Ya Hkaraw around 1 pm.

On Jan 14, Kachin civilian forces under KIA’s 27^th Battalion fought a battle against a Burmese army unit at a hill between Pung Ling Dingsa and Pung Ling Prang Daw in Mansi Township at 10:20 am.

Several mortar rounds have been reportedly fired by Burmese army troops on KIA positions in Mansi Township during the past week. La Aik Bum-based Burmese army troops fired several mortar rounds on KIA’s 12^th Battalion position at Nam Hpang Hkaraw on Jan 9, Kai Htik-based and Sin Di Bum-based troops fired several 105 mm mortar rounds on KIA’s 27^th Battalion positions at Nam Hka Bum, Hku Bung, Pali Bum, Mada Bum and Pung Ling on Jan 5-6.

In southeastern Kachin state, Burmese army’s 381^st Light Infantry Regiment (LIR) troops currently based at Hka Ya Bum fired over 10 MG-42 machine gun rounds on KIA’s 40^th Battalion’s Lang Ta Bum post on Jan 9 at 8 pm. Lang Ta Bum post is located just a few miles from KIA headquarters Laiza.

The same 381^st LIR troops fired over 20 MG-42 machine gun rounds on KIA’s 23th Battalion’s Laja Bum post on Jan 13 at 11:24 am.

In western Kachin State, several mortar rounds were reported fired by Burmese army on KIA frontline positions during the past week.

Burmese army troops currently based at Hka Da Zup fired 8 mortar rounds on Hkaw Seng on Jan 7 at 11 pm.

Kai Htau Pa-based troops fired 3 mortar rounds on I-di Hka and Nam Gawn Zup on Jan 8 at 3 pm.

Nban Hka-based troops fired 4 mortar rounds on Hka U Yup on Jan 8 at 2:30 pm.

Nawng Mi-based troops fired several mortar rounds on its surrounding area on Jan 9 at 8:30 pm.

N-ga Ga-based 86^th Light Infantry Battalion troops fired an artillery round on KIA’s 14^th Battalion position at Chyasam Hka on Jan 10 at 2:15 am.

N-ga Ga-based troops fired 2 mortar rounds on KIA’s 14^th Battalion position at Lapu Hka on Jan 10 at 1 pm.

Burmese army troops under Danai-based Regional Operations Command fired 2 mortar rounds on Lawt Ja village on Jan 10 forcing villagers to flee their homes.

Nawng Lung Kawng Ra-based troops fired 5 mortar rounds on Kawng Ra cemetery on Jan 10 at 10:05 pm.

Baluk Nawng-based and Chyasam Hka-based troops fired several mortar rounds on a KIA frontline position at Oi Law on Jan 11-12, Kai Htau Pa-based troops fired 2 mortar rounds on Wun Rawt village on Jan 12, and Jam Bu Bum-based troops fired 5 mortar rounds on Chyingnam Hka and Hka Mut Hka Hku on the same day.

On Jan 13, Burmese army troops currently based at Mung Hkawm village fired KIA’s 14^th Battalion frontline positions at Rawt Jat Gate and Noi Je Bum Pat Maw.

In northern Shan state, Nampaka-based Burmese army’s 123^rd Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) troops fired several artillery rounds on Bang Htan Hpa Bum and Kutkai-based 242^nd LIB troops fired 5 mortar rounds on its surrounding area on Jan 9.

KIA frontline sources reported that Burmese military fighter jets dropped bombs on its frontline positions in northern Shan state and multiple fighter jets flew over its frontline positions in Kachin state.

Two Burmese military fighter jets from Bhamo dropped 3 rounds of bombs at Hku Bung in KIA’s 4^th Brigade area in northern Shan state on Jan 5.

Similarly in Kachin state, a Burmese military fighter jet was seen flying over gold mines along Nmai Hka in KIA’s 4^th Battalion area on Jan 9 beginning 12:25 pm. Three Burmese military fighter jets from Myitkyina’s Nam Pawng airstrip were seen hovering on Namti and Moe Gaung area on Jan 10 at around 10:55 am.

On Jan 12, an unmanned aerial vehicle flew over KIA‘s 18^th Battalion positions in Lazing Kawng and Nbwi Bum at 11 am.