Fighting has spread to Bhamo Township in Kachin State as Myanmar’s junta attempts to retake neighboring Momauk Township.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies seized the Light Infantry Battalion 437 headquarters, the last regime stronghold in Momauk Township, on August 19.
The junta has since been trying to retake the stronghold, according to the KIA.
Clashes are reported around Aung Myay village in Bhamo Township, the KIA’s spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy.
He said the headquarters was an important base for the Military Operation Command 21 in Bhamo.
Troops from Bhamo trying to reach Momauk have reportedly become stuck at Aung Myay, about 12km from Bhamo and around 16km from Momauk.
The regime is using armored vehicles, drones, shelling from bases in Bhamo and daily airstrikes around Aung Myay, the KIA spokesman said.
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.
Momauk town has been abandoned by residents.
“This time, we didn’t attack a regime base but are just resisting the junta’s attack,” Col Naw Bu added.
Around 300 junta troops from Bhamo have suffered about 30 deaths, according to resistance groups. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
In Kachin State, the KIA and its allies have seized Momauk, Lwelgel, Sadone, Sumprabum, Sinbo, Injangyang, Myo Hla, Myo Thit and Dawthponeyan towns in Kachin State and Mabein in northern Shan State since March.
The KIA and its allies have overrun more than 220 junta positions and control crucial routes to China.
