According to Kachin Independence Army (KIA) military sources, three civilians, including a child, were killed when the military council conducted an airstrike on Lan Say village in Shawlaw Township, Kachin State. The airstrike occurred at 2:25 PM on September 22, when bombs struck an area where children were playing, resulting in the death of one child, one man, and one woman, while two others were injured.
The military council deliberately targeted civilian residential areas away from the actual conflict zone. The real fighting was taking place in the La Hi Sang area north of Lan Say village, with aircraft launching from Taunggyi Air Base conducting the strikes. These aerial attacks have continued for two consecutive days, with the first round of bombing targeting the combat area. The KIA military sources indicated that this was a deliberate targeting of civilian areas, separate from where actual fighting was occurring.
Additionally, during the fighting between the KIA and military forces in the La Hi Sang area, a misguided military airstrike resulted in the death of two members of the People’s Militia Force. The conflict began on September 20, when KIA joint forces engaged with military council troops and allied militia forces that had entered from the Konglanphu Township area. The military council has intensified its air attacks after suffering significant losses in the ground fighting. The military’s response has included airstrikes that have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to residential areas.
Historical records show that in 2024, the combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Putao People’s Defense Force (PDF), and Kakabo People’s Defense Force (KPF) successfully captured the La Hi Sang People’s Militia Force camp and Khran Hti Dam People’s Militia Force camp in Konglanphu Township, Kachin State. Currently, fighting continues in the region, with ongoing reports of civilian casualties and displacement. The situation highlights the military council’s continued use of airstrikes against civilian targets, a tactic that has resulted in numerous civilian casualties throughout the conflict.
