The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) shot down a Burma Army combat helicopter assisting jet fighters attacking the ethnic armed organization (EAO) in Momauk Township, Kachin State.

Col Naw Bu, the spokesperson for KIA’s political wing Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), wasn’t sure how many casualties there were after the helicopter went down Monday morning. But he confirmed Burma Army artillery strikes caused civilian casualties in Konlaw village, near where the helicopter was hit.

A local man said 3 May 2021 airstrikes killed a Buddhist monk in the village and wounded three others, including a woman and child. SHAN was unable to independently confirm this information at the time of press.

Since last week, Burma Army has been attacking KIA with air and ground attacks, attempting to recapture Alaw Bum, a strategic mountain position near the border of China the EAO seized in late March. Fighting has displaced over 4,000 civilians in Momauk Township.