The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Military Council forces have been fighting for 6 consecutive days, In Kutkai township, Muse district, Shan state. A local man from Kaung Lein village-tract told Shan Herald that since the night of February 12, the two sides had clashed in Kaung Lein village-tract, Kutkai township, and the residents did not dare to go out for fear of being hit by artillery shells during the fighting.

“ They don’t dare to go out because they are afraid that artillery shells will fall towards the village, and the soldiers will come and shoot them. For those who are financially comfortable, it is not such a big problem, for those who are not well-off, it is very difficult to cope with their loss of income and lack of foo,” said a local man in Kaung Lein.

The current fighting area is close to Nar Phel and Kaung Lein villages in Kaung Lein village-tract of Kutkai township, Kaung Kham village and Khar Phawt village in Man Pying village-tract.

It is reported that military council forces attacked the KIA 6th Brigade, Battalion-9 headquarters in Kaung Lein village-tract, Kutkai township, and on the 3rd day of the battle, there were bombardments by air force support...

“On February 14, the 3rd day of the battle, there was a lot of bombing by war-planes. I can’t count how many bombs were dropped. The battle site is about 3 furlongs away from the village.” added the Kaung Lein resident.

On February 9, a battle broke out between Division 99, which launched an operation against KIA Battalion - 9 with infantry and vehicles, and KIA 4th Brigade Battalion – 8, backed up by food and reinforcements. KIA 4th Brigade Battalion - 8 was attacked near Kaung Kham village in Man Pying village-tract, 38 miles between Kutkai-Theinni and Nam Par Chee village near Loi Sam Sip mountain.

The coup Military Council forces announced a one-year ceasefire from January 1 to December 31, 2023, but the Military Council’ s airstrikes on ethnic areas and battlefield battles are still ongoing.