The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies say they have seized Momauk Township in Kachin State after occupying Light Infantry Battalion 437 headquarters, the last remaining junta base in the town, on Monday.
The KIA said it seized arms and ammunition and six military vehicles, including an armored fighting vehicle, which was sent from Bhamo Township as a reinforcement.
KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu said the armed group had complete control of the town.
“We started attacking the town on July 24 and it took almost a month to seize,” he said.
He said the Battalion 437 headquarters was an important base for the junta’s Military Operations Command 21 based in Bhamo Township and frequent airstrikes were launched to support the base.
Momauk Township is west of Laiza, where the KIA headquarters is based, spanning mountains northeast of the key junta hub at Bhamo. Momauk and Bhamo townships command the junction between Lwegel on the Chinese border, Mandalay and Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital.
The route to Laiza from Mandalay and Bhamo also passes through Momauk and analysts say its seizure opens up Bhamo to KIA attacks.
In October last year – when the Brotherhood Alliance launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State – the KIA seized Injangyang Township without any fighting after junta troops retreated.
The KIA and its allies have since attacked junta bases along the Myitkyina-Bhamo road.
It said it now controls Sumprabum, Hsinbo, Lwegel, Myo Hla, Sadon, Dawthponeyan and Momauk towns in Kachin State and Mabein town in northern Shan State.
