The Military Council convoy attempting to advance into the Namsangyang area within Waingmaw Township, Kachin State, where the military situation is highly volatile, faced significant losses when it found itself encircled and subjected to intense attacks by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Hkala Yang, Dawthponeyan locals said.

A military convoy consisting of 25 vehicles, which had been stationed at the 142nd Light Infantry Battalion headquarters in Dawthponeyan for several days, departed on September 9th. However, it encountered a blockade by KIA and came under siege at Hkala Yang, just 2 miles away from the upper side of Dawthponeyan.

In their determined efforts to obstruct the military convoy's advance towards the upper region of Hkala Yang, KIA launched aggressive attacks, resulting in the destruction of three military trucks carrying essential supplies for the Military Council and apparently causing casualties among the personnel, a Dawthponeyan local told KNG.

"The three trucks in the convoy that attempted to advance were completely burned and rendered inoperable. Several other damaged but still operational military trucks turned back and returned to the Dawthponeyan-based battalion. We witnessed wounded soldiers being loaded onto the returning trucks yesterday”, the source said.

There are unverified reports suggesting that Military Council troops who were killed and injured during KIA's siege at Hkala Yang have been transported back to the Dawthponeyan-based 142nd Battalion. However, the precise details of the casualty situation remain uncertain.

KIA's strategic blockade in Hkala Yang forced approximately 10 out of the 25 vehicles in the Military Council's convoy to withdraw, while simultaneously, several trucks from the battalion were observed moving to the opposite side to provide reinforcements, according to locals.

“It seems unlikely that the convoy will be able to advance beyond Hkala Yang. Yesterday, we witnessed approximately 10 trucks retreating to the battalion. Early this morning, 5 vehicles left the battalion, and a few hours later, 6 others returned to the battalion. These returning vehicles exhibited damage to their doors, burst wheels, and other issues, and they also carried injured troops”, a witness reported to KNG.

Conversely, the Military Council troops stationed in Hanggai Bum and Hpun Pyen Bum have been consistently launching artillery shells, firing approximately 10 rounds each time, targeting the areas where KIA personnel are positioned, with the aim of creating a safe passage for their fellow Military Council convoy currently blockaded by the KIA at Hkala Yang.

As of September 11th, the military convoy remained trapped for two days, unable to proceed further due to the ongoing siege in Hkala Yang.

The convoy had been stationed at the Dawthponeyan-based battalion for approximately a week, where it had stocked up on essential provisions, before coming under attack by KIA upon its departure. Its primary mission was to transport weapons and supplies to the Military Council outposts in the vicinity of Namsangyang.

Presently, the fighting between the Military Council and KIA in Dawthponeyan and Hkala Yang persists with intensity, resulting in road closures and significant difficulties for locals in terms of mobility.

Photo caption - KIA troops marching between Myitkyina and Bhamo