According to frontline sources, combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF) have been conducting continuous attacks for four days against a military council vessel group traveling upstream along the Ayeyarwady River from Shwegu town in Kachin State. The offensive has resulted in the destruction of three military vessels by fire, while intense ground battles continue in the surrounding areas.
The military council’s vessel group, which entered Shwegu town on July 28, has been under constant attack by the combined KIA and KPDF forces. On the morning of July 31, one military vessel was destroyed by fire during an engagement near Shwegu town, forcing the remaining vessels to retreat. The military council deployed three ground columns along the riverbank to provide security for the vessels, leading to intense battles. The military council also conducted two airstrikes using fighter jets in the area, while resistance forces continued their defensive operations.
The military vessels were reportedly part of a supply mission from Mandalay to Banmaw, attempting to transport weapons, ammunition, and reinforcements. Revolutionary forces had issued prior warnings to local civilians to evacuate the area, anticipating the military council’s vessel movement along the Ayeyarwady River. The ongoing conflict has forced local residents to flee to safer locations away from the fighting.
According to frontline sources, the military council’s vessel group has been unable to reach their intended destination of Banmaw and has been forced to retreat to Shwegu. The resistance forces have maintained pressure on the military vessels since their initial entry into the area, resulting in the destruction of three vessels over the four-day period. The continued resistance operations have effectively disrupted the military council’s attempt to reinforce their positions in the region, demonstrating the growing capabilities of the revolutionary forces in challenging the military council’s control over vital waterways.
