On 10 February, the Military Council launched airstrikes on Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) positions in Nawngkio Township, Kyaukme District, northern Shan State.
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Local people reported that KIA and PDF forces located near Lon Khan village in Khur Nim village-tract of Nawngkio township were attacked by Military Council ground troop artillery fire and from the air by jet fighters.
“The clash location is just five miles away from Nawngkio town. Three Military Council jet fighters dropped bombs on KIA and PDF positions. A Buddhist monastery dining hall was damaged during the airstrikes. I think the jet fighters dropped at least 30 bombs,” a local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told SHAN.
The local source said that villagers fled from Lon Khan village during the attack to seek refuge at a Buddhist monstery in Khur Nim village. SHAN has not been able to independently verify the number of IDPs, the extent of property damage or whether there were any casualties.
“We do not know the exact number of IDPs there. Tensions are high and future clashes are likely. Burma Army soldiers continue to fire artillery sporadically,” he told SHAN.
It is estimated that more than 200 Military Council soldiers and about 500 soldiers from the KIA and PDF were involved in the fighting. Locals report that all armed actors are still active in the area, and the likelihood of additional armed clashes between the KIA and PDF combined forces and the Military Council remains high.
In August 2022, armed clashes between Military Council and PDF soldiers in Nawngkio Township displaced more than 1,000 people from Khur Nim, Ho Kho and Kalar Kwe villages.
Despite announcing a country-wide ceasefire from 1 January to 31 December 2023, the Military Council continues to engage in armed clashes across the country.
