The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and joint forces have seized control of the downtown areas in Momauk and Mansi townships amidst ongoing urban clashes in Bhamo District of Kachin State, yet nearby Junta outposts still need to be captured, KIA reported.
On May 8, KIA and allied groups successfully repelled Junta troops from residential areas in Momauk. In spite of this victory, the 437th Light Infantry Battalion of the Junta remains entrenched in Momauk, leading to intense fighting.
"The downtown is now free of enemy soldiers, but the battle will not finish until we clear out the all the soldiers of the 437th Battalion. We have also had skirmishes on the Kyangin side”, a KIA frontline source said.
Since April, Junta troops have occupied residential areas, schools, and churches in Momauk, even deploying artillery batteries. Now, KIA has begun clearing these areas.
KIA has also captured the Walawng La Base, a large defensive position in Mansi, another town where the fighting is intense. As of the morning of May 9, a comprehensive inspection and clearance operation have commenced on the base.
A KIA source told KNG "KIA successfully took control of the fortified defensive position near Mansi's outskirts, and we have begun clearing the area. We still need to tackle the main bases of the Junta's 601st and 319th Light Infantry Battalions in Mansi.”
Following the fall of Walawng La Base, two Junta military aircraft launched retaliatory airstrikes, targeting KIA positions in the area.
Momauk and Mansi are the epi-centres of intense urban warfare in the entire Kachin State,
with downtown areas experiencing heavy fighting. As a result, locals have suffered property damage, and some have become trapped due to the inability to flee the towns.
Due to the Junta's disruption of communication networks in conflict zones, real-time verification of battlefield news has become challenging.
Over the past few days, clashes have advanced to within 4 miles of Bhamo, prompting its residents to initiate evacuations since the morning of May 9.
"The Junta is firing artillery non-stop into the battle zones. With the fighting now just 4 miles from Bhamo, we are evacuating using both jungle paths and regular roads”, a Bhamo resident reported. Residents reported that the Junta's battalions stationed in Bhamo have been relentlessly firing artillery towards Momauk and Mansi for over a week.
Now, the fighting is not just confined to Momauk and Mansi, and has spilled over into areas near Bhamo, prompting panic among locals.
