The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and allied resistance forces, seized the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 236, which is located near the Military Operations Command (MOC) 21 in Bhamo Township, sources on the frontline in southern Kachin State told DVB.
“Fighting at MOC 21 is still ongoing. The military is relying on daily airstrikes and drone attacks [to retaliate],” one source told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
Bhamo is located 120 miles (193 km) south of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and 58 miles (93 km) southwest of Laiza, the KIA headquarters.
The KIA-led forces seized the military’s Tank Battalion 5014 on Feb. 7, Artillery Battalion 366 on Feb. 2, the Bhamo Airport on Jan. 26, Armored Battalion 7006 on Jan. 25, and neighbouring Mansi Township of southern Kachin State on Jan. 8.
After the KIA seized the LIB 236 in Bhamo, it detained over 70 regime troops and seized weapons and drones, on Feb. 21. The regime still controls the MOC 21, LIB 47 and 237, as well as engineering, medical and logistics battalions in Bhamo District.
