The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its alliance troops have seized a State Administration Council (SAC) Infantry Battalion 123 base in Namphakka in Kutkai Township.

“Clashes were so intense last night. But this morning, the gunfire was silent. I heard that IB-123 fell to KIA…since last night,” a man told SHAN on January 15. The man heard that KIA troops recovered many weapons from the SAC soldiers. “I think KIA won’t show images of the captured weapons,” he said without explaining why.

Locals say there were some civilian casualties and houses damaged during the fighting, but SHAN couldn’t independently confirm this information with the KIA or its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation, despite multiple attempts to reach its spokesperson.

Phone and internet services have been suspended in Namphakka and Kutkai since the Three Brotherhood Alliance started its 1027 Operation at the end of October. The three armed groups in the alliance have seized hundreds of SAC bases and several key towns along the border with China and from other locations in northern Shan State.