According to KIA military sources, combined forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) have intercepted advancing military columns heading toward Hpakant in Kachin State, while intense fighting continues in Banmaw. Military columns numbering in the hundreds are advancing toward Hpakant city from Moegaung and Karmine areas, leading to battles that began on April 24. Due to the intensity of the fighting, all routes to Hpakant have been closed.
Near the Karmine exit by the dam area, the military council launched an offensive with approximately 500 troops. The combined KIA and PDF forces engaged them in defensive operations, resulting in casualties on both sides. Eyewitnesses reported seeing three people thrown into the air during a mine explosion in the fighting. Additionally, heavy fighting has broken out along the Myitkyina-Moegaung-Karmine road and around the dam village area. The military junta has deployed fighter jets for air support, conducting six airstrikes during the battles.
Fighting has also erupted along the Hoepin-Indawgyi road section as the military launches offensive operations in the area. In Banmaw, intense urban warfare continues as of April 25, with the military conducting repeated airstrikes. The battle for control of Banmaw has seen approximately ten airstrikes, with aerial bombardment continuing both day and night. The military has also been firing heavy artillery from their base in Mohnyin, while their forces in Myitkyina are shelling KIA and PDF positions in the Waingmaw area. The escalating military tension has led to the closure of all routes in the Hpakant area, including the Hoepin-Indawgyi-Wakha-Hpakant road sections.
