The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is fighting Myanmar junta troops trying to retake Momauk, which fell in August, according to town residents.
Regime reinforcements from Bhamo have been blocked by the KIA and its allies near Aung Myay village about 11km from Bhamo, which has reported repeated fighting.
A Momauk resident told The Irrawaddy: “There is fighting every day and daily airstrikes target Aung Myay village. This morning we heard explosions three times.”
The regime has used drones and armored vehicles to recapture Momauk. On August 19, the KIA and its allies, including Kachin People’s Defense Force, seized Battalion 437, the last regime stronghold in Momauk Township.
Junta bases in Bhamo are also shelling the village, according to the People’s Spring media group. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
Momauk residents estimate that the junta has around 2,000 troops in Bhamo and over 100 junta troops and armored vehicles were sent to Aung Myay.
Momauk is seen as strategically important to control southern Kachin State. The KIA and its allies have overrun more than 220 junta positions and control crucial routes to China.
Momauk Township is west of Laiza, where the KIA headquarters is based, spanning mountains northeast of the key junta hub at Bhamo.
Bhamo and Momauk townships control the junction between Lwegel on the Chinese border, Mandalay and Myitkyina, the Kachin capital.
A resistance group said that since late August, the KIA and its allies have killed almost 100 junta troops and one KIA fighter has died and five resistance members were wounded since Saturday, Momauk residents said.
Momauk town had over 8,000 homes and more than 20,000 residents but most have left since late July.
“Kachin families went to places like Laiza, Lwegel and Mai Ja Yangon while most Bamar and Shan residents went towards Bhamo,” a resident said.
