The Junta launched air attacks on the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in Laiza on the morning of March 8th, locals said.

This was the Junta’s response to recent losses to the resistance .On March 7th, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed wing of KIO, simultaneous attacked and captured the several Junta camps around Laiza.  The Junta’s reprisals  indiscriminate attacking many civilian areas in Laiza.

"Bombs were dropped into residential areas that are not combat zones, indicating civilians were also targeted”, a Laiza resident told KNG.

The Junta also conducted airstrikes around Laiza on March 7th evening, resulting in at least three stray bombs landing on the Chinese side.

On the morning of March 7th, a 30-year-old mother and a 10-year-old child lost their lives in a house in Waikyai ward as a result of the Junta's shelling. In a separate incident, a civilian was killed by an artillery shell in Munglaihkyet village.

Last year on June 3rd, intense clashes erupted around Namsangyang near Laiza, resulting in numerous civilian casualties due to shelling by Junta battalions stationed in Hpunpyen Bum and Hkaya Bum.

However, during this week's offensive, KIA managed to seize control of the Junta camps that provided artillery support last year. As a result, the Junta is now forced to rely solely on airstrikes, another Laiza resident said.

"The Hpunpyen Bum and Hkaya Bum bases, once used to provide artillery strikes, have now been captured, so the Junta’s tactic shifted towards air attacks. No one dared to venture out to inspect the bomb landing sites, and the night echoed with relentless explosions", he reported.

Similarly last year, two Chinese citizens were killed when artillery shells fired from Hpunpyen Bum and Hkaya Bum exploded on the Chinese side of the border.

During the March 7th operations, KIA successfully seized frontline bases near Laiza, including Hpunpyen Bum, and managed to eliminate militia leader U Shwe Min, who operated  a significant ally for the Junta.

Amidst the intense clashes, numerous Junta troops were killed, while 5 comrades bravely sacrificed their lives on the side of KIA and joint forces.

Local sources have also reported that as of the morning of March 8th, residents in Laiza are anxious due to the presence of military aircraft hovering in the sky.