Intense fighting broke out between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) allied forces and the military council troops in Banmaw City, Kachin State, around 1 PM on August 20. During the battle, KIA allied forces successfully destroyed one military tank, and due to heavy casualties, the military council forces were forced to withdraw from the city, according to KIA military sources. The fierce confrontation resulted in significant losses for the military council forces, leading to their tactical retreat from urban areas.
Prior to this engagement, on August 18, KIA allied forces effectively attacked military council troops operating near Naung Khoe, Min Hla, and Shwe Kyi areas near Banmaw City. In that battle, the military council forces suffered heavy casualties, compelling an entire military column to retreat to Strategic Command Post 21. During the engagement, KIA allied forces captured several prisoners of war and seized various weapons and ammunition. The military’s withdrawal demonstrated the effectiveness of the resistance forces’ operations in the region.
The military council had launched a major offensive with substantial forces near the Myitsone Hotel area in Banmaw City starting from August 13. KIA allied forces mounted strong defensive operations against these attacks, resulting in continuous fighting both day and night for four consecutive days. During these intense battles, more than 60 military council soldiers were killed, and a large cache of weapons and ammunition was captured by the resistance forces. The military casualties were so severe that they were unable to retrieve many of their fallen soldiers, leaving bodies piled up in the battle area. These developments represent significant tactical victories for the resistance forces and underscore the growing challenges faced by the military council in maintaining control over the region.
