Ongoing military offensives by junta troops in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, have led to intense fighting near A Hmote Phone village, with significant casualties reported on the junta side, according to a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) military source.
Clashes near A Hmote Phone village have been raging for three consecutive days, with fierce exchanges of gunfire and artillery shelling occurring continuously from the evening of June 25 through the whole day on June 26. The source confirmed that junta troops, attempting to advance, have suffered heavy losses and have been unable to make further progress as joint forces from the KIA and local People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) have blocked their advance and launched coordinated attacks.
“The fighting near A Hmote Phone has been going on for about three days now. The junta forces are stuck and suffering significant injuries and casualties. The KIA and PDFs have surrounded and attacked them using both heavy and light weapons. The battle has lasted all morning and also went on throughout yesterday afternoon,” said the KIA source.
The joint resistance forces have been countering the junta’s campaign in Hpakant for nearly a month, with daily clashes reported. The source estimates that junta casualties since the start of the offensive have reached between 50 and 100 troops. Since the arrival of three junta battalions from the base in Mogaung, around 39 to 40 civilians have also reportedly been tortured and killed by junta troops.
Meanwhile, in Banmaw Township, two civilians were reportedly killed on June 26 by shelling from junta forces during renewed clashes in the area, adding to the mounting civilian toll from the junta’s offensives across Kachin State.
