The Military Council deployed two fighter jets to conduct air raids on villages located in the eastern side of Shwegu Township within Kachin State on March 26th around 3:30 pm locals said.

“At that moment, two fighter jets were bombing the area, dropping at least four bombs. The bombing is still ongoing, and it is uncertain how long it will last. Our initial plan was to travel to Southern Manwein, but we had to turn back due to the aerial bombing”, a woman from Shwegu told KNG.

The Military Council’s jets bombed villages located roughly 9 miles away from Shwegu, and the precise number of civilian casualties resulting from the attack remains unknown, she added.

Starting from March 23rd, the Military Council launched a significant offensive, which has been met with resistance from both the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF). As a result, there has been ongoing fighting in the villages that were targeted by the recent airstrikes.

The intensification of clashes resulted in a rise in casualties on the Military Council’s side prompting the use of such air support, some locals suggested.

On March 23rd, when clashes erupted in the region, there were rumors spreading that the Military Council sustained significant casualties. Furthermore, reports suggest that a deputy battalion commander was also seriously injured during the conflicts.

On March 23rd, the Military Council launched an attack on the eastern part of Shwegu, deploying three military columns. As a result, local villagers have been forced to flee the area in search of safety.