Intense fighting has broken out between the combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) against military council troops and Shanni People’s Militia near Sanyin Kone village on the eastern side of Indawgyi Lake in Mohnyin Township, Kachin State. According to KIA military sources, the military council forces have suffered heavy casualties and are responding with intense air support to defend their positions.
The fighting erupted around 3:30 PM on June 12 near Sanyin Kone village along the Indawgyi-Hwekar-Hpakant road and Nam Mun-Manar Kyaw road sections on the eastern side of Indawgyi Lake. During the clashes, resistance forces captured some military council soldiers and Shanni militia members alive and seized weapons and ammunition. Despite attempting to advance toward Hpakant city with approximately 400 troops, the military council forces have been unable to make progress for over one and a half months, facing continued resistance from the combined KIA and PDF forces.
The military council is attempting to advance toward Hpakant city simultaneously along two routes – the Indawgyi-Hwekar-Hpakant road and the Karmine-Nan Ya-Hpakant road. Although the column advancing from the Indawgyi area began its operation earlier than the one from Karmine, it has yet to reach its intended destination. The military council column advancing along the Karmine-Nan Ya-Hpakant road has reached within Hpakant township, where it continues to face attacks from combined KIA and PDF forces.
