On February 23, the Myanmar military conducted an airstrike on Wan Weng Long (Mantweinggyi) village in Mansi Township, Kachin State, targeting an area currently under the control of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to local sources.

A local source informed SHAN that the attack focused on a former military base now occupied by the KIA and reportedly used for military training.

“The area that was bombed was the military’s old base, now under KIA control. The attack did not cause damage, as the bomb was dropped on an abandoned hilltop camp,” the source said.

Despite the lack of direct damage, the force of the explosion shook houses in Wan Weng Long and nearby villages. The nighttime airstrike is believed to be part of the military’s efforts to reclaim its lost base.

A resident of Namkham Township, approximately 13 miles from the bombed area, expressed concerns about potential future attacks.

“The village they bombed last night is very close, only an hour’s drive from here. The explosion was so powerful that houses in our area shook. I’m afraid the next attack will come here,” she told SHAN.

This attack on Wan Weng Long follows a previous military airstrike on Mantar village in Mansi Township on February 21, which resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries to three others.

In late January, the KIA captured key military positions in the Wan Weng Long area, including an army camp, police station, and checkpoint.

“The military council has always responded to battlefield losses with airstrikes against civilians. With Wan Weng Long so close to Namkham, we fear our town could be next. The military’s negotiations with the TNLA have not gone well, so the situation is tense,” a local man from Namkham said.

In recent days, the military has reportedly intensified airstrikes and drone attacks on civilian areas in Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State, and Bhamo District, Kachin State, leading to widespread displacement and increasing casualties.

The KIA launched an offensive on Bhamo City, Kachin State, on December 4, 2024. Within two months, it captured several key military garrisons, including the 7006th Armored Battalion, the 5014th Tank Battalion, the 235th Infantry Battalion, and the 366th Artillery Battalion.

In response, the military junta has initiated a fierce counteroffensive to reclaim its abandoned bases in Mansi and Bhamo.