Seven people were killed and a further six were injured in junta airstrikes on the villages of Hsinhkan and Hkuli in Bhamo Township, Kachin State on 18 March 2025.
The two villages are controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). An airstrike hit Hsinkhan Village just after 12:00 am in the early hours of 18 March and a second airstrike hit Hkuli Village less than an hour later at around 1:00 am.
A local source said: “A junta plane bombed Hkuli village, killing a woman named Laphai Lubu. Also, in Hsinhkan, a bombing strike killed six people, including two KIA troops and four civilians.”
He explained that the airstrike on Hsinkhan Village had killed six people and injured a further six. Two of the six dead were KIA soldiers and named as Dashi La Sai and Ah In Khum Suthtwe Kwam Li. Of the other four civilian fatalities two were named as Daw Wah Wah King and Ai Kyaw. The final two fatalities, both men, were unidentified.
The airstrike on Hkuli Village killed Laphai Lubu, but fortunately no one else was killed or injured in that airstrike, according to the source.
Though fierce fighting is still ongoing in and around the Bhamo Town, there has been no recent fighting in or around either Hsinhkan or Hkuli villages since they were captured by the KIA a year ago, in March 2024.
Trying to explain the junta’s reasons for launching airstrikes on the two villages KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu said: “Hsinhkan is in a strategic position for logistics, and the junta has already lost control of it. The village isn't far from the ongoing fighting around Bhamo. I think the junta carried out the airstrike because of this. There are also regular KIA activities around Hsinhkan, so it's likely the junta bombed it after receiving intel about that.”
The junta had previously launched an airstrike on Hsinhkan Village that killed two civilians and injured a further three on 14 February 2025.
Hsinhkan Village lies about 58 km south of Bhamo Town. Hkuli Village lies just to the west of Hsinhkan Village, most of its population are ethnic Shan people.
