KIO spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu has firmly denied the military’s propaganda claim that 4,616 revolutionary forces were killed in the ongoing battles in Banmaw, Kachin State, stating it is completely false and merely psychological warfare. While the military managed to regain control of the armored battalion and Infantry Battalion 236 near Strategic Operations Command-21 headquarters on the evening of September 11, Colonel Naw Bu clarified that KIA allied forces remain deployed throughout Banmaw city and fighting continues. He emphasized that although they had to withdraw from some positions, their forces maintain an active presence across the city as they continue their offensive operations.
The KIA and allied forces began their offensive to capture Banmaw in December 2024, with the campaign now approaching its tenth month. Despite the military’s defensive efforts using drones and air strikes, Colonel Naw Bu confirmed that the revolutionary forces will continue their operations until they achieve complete control of the city. According to KIA frontline sources, while the military has suffered nearly 1,000 casualties during the ten months of fighting, revolutionary forces have experienced significantly fewer losses in comparison. The sources emphasize that although there have been casualties on both sides, the military’s losses far exceed those of the resistance forces.
The current situation shows that KIA allied forces still control most areas within Banmaw city, with the military only managing to recapture the armored battalion and Infantry Battalion 236 positions near SOC-21 headquarters. Active fighting continues in other parts of the city, and Colonel Naw Bu stressed that KIA allied forces will not cease their operations until they achieve their objective of fully capturing Banmaw. The ongoing offensive represents a significant challenge to military control in Kachin State, with revolutionary forces demonstrating their capability to sustain extended military operations against entrenched military positions despite facing aerial bombardment and drone attacks.
