It is believed that the junta is ramping up preparations to retake Sumprabum Town and Tiyangzug Village about half way between Myitkyina and Sumprabum towns on the Myitkyina-Putao Road in Kachin State.
Sumprabum Town in Sumprabum Township is on the Myitkyina to Putao road about 128 miles (206 km) north of the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina, and about 82 miles (132km) south of Putao in northern Kachin State.
It was the home to the junta’s Tactical Operations Command (TOC) that was manned by Infantry Battalion (IB) 46. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched an offensive against the Sumprabum TOC during the second week of March 2024 and finally took control of the military base and the whole of the town on 5 May 2024.
Tiyangzug Village in Myitkyina Township on the border with Sumprabum Township is also on the Myitkyina to Puatao Road about halfway between Myitkyina Town, which is 52 miles (85km) away and Sumprabum Town which is 75 miles (120km) away. On 2 August 2024 the KIA took control of two junta outposts and one military camp all manned by soldiers from IB 58.
In Kachin State, since late September, reports have been circulating that the junta is preparing to to retake the bases it lost in Sumprabum Town and Tiyangzug Village. To this end the junta has been ramping up military activities between Myitkyina Town and Myitsone, about 22 miles (35km) north of Myitkyina in Myitkyina Township on the Myitkyina to Putao Road. This area is firmly controlled by the junta and well south of the KIA controlled areas.
Since July and August there has been much junta troop activity and deployment in Nawngnang Village Tract about 10 miles (16km) north of Myitkyina, between Myitkyina and Myitsone on the Myitkyina to Putao Road.
In September several groups of junta soldiers were stationed in various areas of Nawngnang Village Tract, including in front of the Trinity Annual Church in Kawarhka Village, where they frequently conducted surprise checks, mainly targeting cargo trucks.
On 5 October a Myitkyina Town resident reported that just outside Myitkyina he had seen two military trucks, with about 30 soldiers in each, heading north towards Myitsone.
He said: "I can't say the exact number of troops being loaded, but both trucks were fully packed and headed north. Rumours are circulating that the junta is planning to retake Sumprabum. The trucks were traveling from Myitkyina to Myitsone, but it's unclear where they will go from there.”
A day earlier, on 4 October, locals reported seeing two military trucks leaving Myitsone and heading south to Myitkyina, but they did not have any further details about what the trucks were doing.
Colonel Naw Bu, a KIA spokesperson claimed that if the junta cannot retake its bases in Sumprabum Town and Tiyangzug Village and the surrounding areas, and believes that it has no chance of taking them, it will instead implement a scorched earth policy in those areas.
