June 2023: Burma Army Attacks to Gain Key Trade Route in Northern Burma
27 July 2023
Kachin State, Northern Shan State, Sagaing Region, Burma
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) reported a total of 51 conflict-related events during the month of June 2023, in the areas of Kachin, Northern Shan, and Sagaing due to the Burma Army’s presence in this region. The amount of overall reported activity remained consistent from the previous month’s 53 conflict-related events. In June, the Burma Army and affiliates attacked the Ethnic Armed Organizations’ (EAO) controlled regions on 29 instances, including 13 ground attacks, 10 air / drone strikes, and six artillery / mortar strikes.
The Burma Army focused their ground-based offensives in the areas of Waingmaw, Mabein, and Kutkai / Hseni. Their offensive in Waingmaw was particularly intense as the Burma Army tried to seize the KIA Lagat outpost which protects the strategic Sadung road, connecting Waingmaw Town to China. The Burma Army is determined to secure this road to access another trade route with China and control the border areas.
Apart from the 51 conflict-related events, the KIA recorded a total of five events committed by Burma Army soldiers and their affiliates that harmed civilians. The Burma Army shot dead an elderly couple in Waingmaw Township, then abducted their son; they killed a 53-year-old woman with a drone strike in Tanai Township; and they confiscated around 300 cars at a checkpoint in Hpakant Township. Additionally, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA – a Burma Army proxy force) threatened locals at a market in Hpakant and extorted Ks-4,000,000 from them.
Kachin State
Hpakant Township
On June 3, 2023, at 1540 hours, Burma Army soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 120 at Nam Ya Checkpoint confiscated approximately 300 unlicensed cars, in Hpakant Township.
On June 4, 2023, at 1055 hours, eight Burma Army soldiers from Infantry Battalion (IB) 76 in a 4WD car came from San Chyoi monastery were attacked with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at San Chyoi village by combined forces of KIA and Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF), leaving the car destroyed, three soldiers killed and the rest wounded seriously, in Hpakant Township.
On June 9, 2023, at 0900 hours, SNA personnel extorted Ks-4,000,000 from people at the Daw Tan Tan market after threatening them, in Hpakant Township.
On June 18, 2023, at 1830 hours, KIA soldiers dropped a bomb from a drone at Gwihka Base, in Hpakant Township.
On June 22, 2023, at 0745 hours, an estimated 15 Burma Army soldiers came from Kamaing Byuha Kawng (Kamaing Tactical Base), arrived at a school in Kawng Ra Village, and were attacked with an IED leaving one Burma Army soldier dead and one wounded, in Hpakant Township.
On June 24, 2023, between 1957-2026 hours, an unidentified armed group fired ten 81mm mortar rounds from the area of the Jahtu Zup Pyi Thu Tsit (PTT) leader house to the area near Wa Hka frontline area, in Hpakant Township.
On June 24, 2023, KIA soldiers fired five 60mm mortar rounds to the area beside Kai Taw Ja Maw (gold mining area) and eight 60mm mortar rounds to the area beside Achye road intersection between Ban Kawk village and Awng Ra village in response to receiving mortar fire from an unknown group, in Hpakant Township.
Mohnyin Township
On June 19, 2023, at 2239 hours, six Burma Army soldiers from LIB (381) in a car headed to Lung Tung from Nyawng Pyin and were attacked with an IED by KIA soldiers from 26th Battalion, in Mohnyin Township.
On June 27, 2023, at 1530 hours, a 40-year-old man from Hwi Lung village driving a Pajero car ran over a landmine near Hwi Lung Village, was seriously wounded in the left side of the chest and died later. The incident happened when he was driving back from Gwi Hka to Mohnyin after transporting fuel, in Mohnyin Township.
On June 27, 2023, at 1100 hours, KIA soldiers opened fire at approximately 15 SNA (PTTs) when appearing along Pan Che village road, leaving two SNA (PTTs) seriously wounded, in Mohnyin Township.
Shwegu Township
On June 18, 2023, between 0600-0620 hours, KPDF and Local Defense Force (LDF) attacked 17 combined Burma Army soldiers of IB (56) and LIB (602) based at four road intersections, leaving two Burma Army soldiers dead and three others seriously wounded, in Shwegu Township.
Tanai Township
On June 17, 2023, between 0100-0200 hours, PTTs forces stationed at Kaitaw Ja Maw (gold mining area) dropped three bombs from a drone near KIO Wara Zup Administrative Office, in Tanai Township.
On June 18, 2023, an estimated 80 Burma Army soldiers heading to Dumbung from Lawa monastery were attacked at 1005 hours by KIA soldiers from 20th Battalion. The Burma Army troops retreated in the direction of Dumbung stream, in Tanai Township.
On June 20, 2023, between 1101-1123 hours, four bombs dropped from a drone from Sanpya PTTs Base at Wa Hka front line area where KIA soldiers from 14th Battalion were present, in Tanai Township.
On June 20, 2023, at 1128 hours, KIA soldiers dropped a bomb from a drone between Awng Ra village and Ban Kawk village where PTTs were present, in Tanai Township.
On June 24, 2023, between 1812-1819 hours, Jahtu Zup PTTs dropped five bombs from a drone at Wa Hka front line area, in Tanai Township.
On June 30, 2023, at 1040 hours, LIB (382) dropped two bombs from a drone from Tingkawk village at Tax Gate between Jambu Bum and Hkring Gaw Hka, killing a 53-year-old woman who was traveling on a motorcycle, in Tanai Township.
Waingmaw Township
On June 16, 2023, at 1330 hours, KIA soldiers from 40th Battalion fired four rounds of grenade launcher and three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) projectiles at over 100 Burma Army soldiers from IB (13) under Light Infantry Division (LID) 88 who were advancing on the Namhsan bridge from Lailum Awng Ja, in Waingmaw Township. Some ammunition items from the Burma Army were seized by the KIA soldiers.
On June 16, 2023, at 1452 hours, the Burma Army fired one mortar to the area beside Namhsan stream from Lailum Awng Ja. At 1830 hours, one 81mm mortar round was fired again, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 22, 2023, between 1015-1030 hours, KIA soldiers from 3rd Battalion attacked an estimated 50 combined forces of LIB (389) and Shwe Min PTTs operating along Law Pum Bum Tawng, leaving four Burma Army soldiers wounded, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 25, 2023, between 1500-1530 hours, LIB (389) and Shwe Min PTTs arrived at Nwan Kawng and fired two 60mm mortar rounds to the area beside Lagat Kawng, two rounds to the area beside Machyang and three rounds to the area beside Lang na waterfall, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 26, 2023, an estimated 60 Burma Army soldiers from Myitkyina and Shwe Min PTTs clashed with KIA soldiers twice near Sadung road, and at Lang Na waterfall between 0930-1400 hours. At 1630 hours, one jet fighter dropped two bombs along Lagat Outpost against the KIA forces, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 26, 2023, the Burma Army troops shot dead an elderly couple and took away their son during the clash with KIA soldiers from 3rd Battalion, in Waimaw township.
On June 27, 2023, at 1000 hours, KIA soldiers from 3rd Battalion fired 60mm mortar and M-79 at an estimated 100 combined forces of LIB (384) and Shwe Min PTTs who arrived near Langna Waterfall, on the Sadung road, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 28, 2023, at 0610 hours, fighting erupted when KIA soldiers from 3rd Battalion fired at Burma Army soldiers who arrived near Hkri Tu Bum, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 28, 2023, between 1900-1920 hours, Burma Army soldiers arrived at Hka Htung Kawng near Nwan Yang fired 60mm mortar rounds at KIA soldiers nearby. KIA soldiers returned with 60mm mortar rounds, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 29, 2023, between 1250-1310 hours, KIA soldiers from 3rd Battalion attacked combined forces of Burma Army and PTTs who arrived nearby, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 29, 2023, between 1440-1524 hours, Burma Army soldiers stationed at Bum Tawng fired five 120mm mortar rounds to the area beside Lagat Kawng Post and dropped two bombs from two drones at 1541 hours at an unspecified target, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 29, 2023, at 1524 hours, KIA’s militiamen fired ten rounds of grenade launchers at Burma Army’s 13-Mile Checkpoint, Sadung-Chihpwi crossroad, in Waingmaw Township.
On June 30, 2023, at 0900 hours, Burma Army soldiers stationed at Bum Tawng, Nwan Kawng fired mortar rounds first to the area beside KIA Lagat Kawng Post. Around 0955 hours, fighting broke out when combined forces of Burma Army soldiers from IB (37), LIB (384) and Shwe Min PTTs advanced towards the KIA Lagat Kawng Post before retreating back. Between 1430-1600 hours, Burma Army troops fired mortar rounds first and carried out an offensive toward where KIA soldiers were present, leaving Burma Army soldiers wounded. During the clash, Burma Army soldiers also dropped six bombs from drones at Lagat Kawng Post, in Waingmaw Township.
Northern Shan State
Hseni Township
On June 4, 2023, between 2025-2045 hours, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) No.611 Brigade attacked a Burma Army base near Sinli Asia Word, in Hseni Township.
On June 4, 2023, between 2025-2045 hours, MNDAA No.611 Brigade attacked a Burma Army base near Sinli Nam Tu bridge, in Hseni Township.
Kutkai Township
On June 1, 2023, at 0843 hours, IB (45) arrived at Marau Kawng, near Hpa Hkrip and fired one 60 mm mortar round to the area beside Lung Htawng Yang and one round to the area beside Namhpalun Bum at 1000 hours, in Kutkai Township.
On June 5, 2023, between 2130-2148 hours, four 120mm mortar rounds were fired from Namhpakka IB (123) Base to the area beside Nammaw Pa, in Kutkai Township.
On June 5, 2023, at 2040 hours, an unidentified armed group riding on a motorcycle fired at Kutkai Asia Word Gate and the Burma Army soldiers returned fire with various firearms untill 2105 hours. Five mortar rounds were fired from IB (241) Base fired to the sides of Maza Kawng and Maw Hit Bum, in Kutkai Township.
On June 17, 2023, at 1108 hours, combined forces of KIA and KPDF dropped two bombs from a drone at Namhkai bridge IB (45) Base, in Kutkai Township.
On June 27, 2023, at 2200 hours, Burma Army soldiers stationed at Kutkai Asia World Gate fired three mortar/artillery rounds to the area beside KIA 8th Battalion control area, in Kutkai Township.
Lashio Township
On June 17, 2023, at 1030 hours, IB (241) fired on two Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) soldiers from 77th Battalion on a motorcycle near the Maw Tawng – Hu Hkye crossroad leaving a TNLA officer dead and a private seriously wounded, in Lashio Township.
Mabein Township
On June 1, 2023, at 0710 hours, one jet dropped bombs by Hkaw Taw village – one bomb at 0710, two bombs at 0953 hours and three bombs at 2230, in Mabein Township.
On June 1, 2023, at 1450 hours, fighting broke out when over 70 Burma Army soldiers from IB (77) came from Noi Ni Ai village appeared between Noi Ni Ai and Bawet village where KPDF were present, in Mabein Township.
On June 2, 2023, between 0420-0510 hours, KPDF defended an advance of over 90 combined Burma Army troops of IBs (223, 276) who came from Mabing along Hkaw Taw, in Mabein Township.
On June 3, 2023, between 1620-1635 hours, fighting broke out when over 90 combined Burma Army soldiers (including IB (223)) came from Auk Kaw village appeared near Moe Lung village where KPDF from KIA 12th Battalion were present, leaving six Burma Army soldiers wounded, in Mabein Township.
On June 3, 2023, at 1915 hours, one jet dropped three bombs on the outskirts of Pwe Zameik village, in Mabein Township.
On June 3, 2023, between 0700-0820 hours, KIA soldiers from 12th Battalion defended an offensive of IB (77) near Pya Gyawng village, in Mabein Township.
On June 4, 2023, at 0710 hours, KIA soldiers from 12th Battalion fired three 60mm mortar rounds at IB (121) Base, in Mabein Township.
On June 17, 2023, at 1418 hours, one jet circled over Pin Chying and dropped two bombs and strafed with machine-gun fire that left one KPDF dead and three others wounded, in Mabein Township.
On June 23, 2023, between 1155-1405 hours, over 200 combined Burma Army soldiers of IBs (78, 223, 276) and LIB (348) heading to Si Bing village clashed with AA soldiers near Nbungli Pa, in Mabein Township.
Muse Township
On June 29, 2023, between 1540-1640 hours, there was a clash between an estimated 40 Burma Army soldiers of LIB (15) operating from Se Ming Kawng and MNDAA soldiers from 511th Brigade – at Nga Dabu Bum. Until 1825 hours, 12 rounds of mortar/artillery from Maihpang Base and 17 rounds from 105-Mile were fired to the MNDAA side, in Muse Township.
On June 22, 2023, at 1830 hours, combined forces of IB (290) and Lung Htang PTTs providing security nearby five cars at Haw Na were attacked by an unknown armed group, leaving one PTTs dead, in Muse Township.
Namtu Township
On June 19, 2023, a man from Seng Kawng village was digging a path on his property and exploded an old landmine, breaking his arms and legs and seriously wounding his chest. He was taken in an ambulance to Namdu Public Hospital for treatment, in Namtu Township.
Sagaing Division
Indaw Township
On June 30, 2023, between 0230-0340 hours, there was a clash between an estimated 180 Burma Army soldiers of an unknown unit and KIA soldiers from 35th Battalion in the jungle between Pin Ti and Pain We, in Indaw Township.