Intense fighting continues in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, where the military council’s aircraft dropped two incendiary bombs on Balaka village, resulting in the destruction of civilian homes by fire, according to military sources from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). On July 18th, in the evening, a fighter jet that departed from Myitkyina airport conducted five passes over Hpakant Township before bombing Balaka village. The military council has positioned three columns of troops in Mawmang Layan village, Mawwang Kalay, and near the garbage dump and Mawwang cemetery areas, attempting to recapture the Mawmaing Kon region.
During the past month of fighting, at least one hundred military council officers and soldiers have been reported killed or wounded. The ongoing military conflict has severely impacted local civilians, with more than five thousand people from ten villages forced to flee their homes as internally displaced persons. The military council’s offensive operations have continued for nearly two months, during which time local sources report that more than fifty civilians have been unlawfully killed. Artillery exchanges between the opposing forces continued into the morning of July 19th. The deteriorating security situation has disrupted daily civilian life, forcing many businesses to suspend operations.
The humanitarian situation in the region continues to worsen as the military council intensifies its operations. Local communities face significant challenges in accessing basic necessities and safe shelter, while the ongoing conflict has severely disrupted agricultural activities and local commerce. The military council’s use of airstrikes against civilian areas represents a serious escalation in the conflict, causing not only immediate destruction but also long-term displacement and economic hardship for the local population. The situation has created a growing humanitarian crisis, with limited access to emergency services and relief supplies for the displaced populations who have been forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.
