The Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) offensive in Kachin State, known unofficially as Operation 0307 (after the date it began), is an ongoing military operation against the Tatmadaw military junta of Myanmar which began on 7 March 2024. Primarily centred along the road connecting Myitkyina to Bhamo, Operation 0307 was launched to capture junta bases which could threaten Laiza, the headquarters of the KIA.[6] Operation 0307 was launched alongside concurrent KIA offensives against Hpakant and northern Shan State, and concurrent resistance offensives throughout Myanmar.
| 2024 Kachin offensive | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Myanmar civil war | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Tatmadaw |
 Kachin Independence Army and several other Kachin-based resistance groups | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Pro-junta groups |
Other anti-junta forces: | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | 21,500+ | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
40+ killed "100s surrendered"[1] | 6+ killed | ||||||||
Previous Offensives
editHpakant
editStarting late February 2024, the KIA and KPDF launched raids on Tatmadaw positions in Hpakant.[7] During April 2024, the KIA launched attacks on Tatmadaw and SNA positions in Hpakant Township. They seized a base overlooking the road between Hpakant and Kamaing, where checkpoints were used to extort civilians and collect vehicle fines.[8] Eventually, they, along with the Kachin People's Defense Force, seized the last outpost near the Hpakant-Tamakan-Sezin road.[9]
Northern Shan State
editAfter the Chinese-brokered ceasefire in Northern Shan State between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the Tatmadaw, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), alongside the Kachin People's Defense Force (KPDF) and the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), began an offensive into northern Shan State with the objective to capture Mongmit District. On 18 January, the allied forces began attacks on Mongmit, captured the Mongmit Police Station and 2 nearby villages.[10] Junta forces responded with air and artillery barrages on the town, forcing allied resistance to put the town under siege.[11] During the offensive on Mongmit, the KIA and allied forces also began launching attacks on neighboring Mabein on 19 January. On 21 January, after several days of fighting, allied resistance captured Mabein and most of the surrounding township.[12] During fighting in Mansi Township on the same day, 17 junta soldiers were forced to cross the China-Myanmar border.[13] On 25 March, allied resistance was forced to withdraw from Mongmit. On 26 March, the KIA captured Nam Hpat Kar village in Kutkai Township.[14]
Tensions with the TNLA
editThe KIA and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), members of the Northern Alliance and allies, began to experience tense relations in the beginning of February. On 4 February, it was reported that 50 KIA soldiers entered Kutkai, which has been under the control of the TNLA since January. The soldiers told a TNLA checkpoint that they would not stay the night, but they proceeded to deploy in the town centre to celebrate Kachin Revolution Day, setting up flags and telling households to send representatives to a military parade they were reportedly holding the next day without informing the TNLA. In response, the TNLA removed flags and reportedly threatened unarmed civilians.[15] Due to rumours that the KIA was planning to advance on the town from positions in Nam Hpat Kar, residents of Kutkai were concerned that clashes between the 2 armies could erupt.[15]
Operation 0307
editOn 7 March, the KIA simultaneously launched attacks on over ten junta outposts in eastern Kachin. Fighting primarily took place along the highway between Bhamo and the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina, as well as around Laiza. The attacks were the beginning of a wider offensive in Kachin State- Operation 0307.[16] Over 8 March, the KIA seized three major junta bases and several outposts, including Hpyun Pyen Bum, a junta's closest forward base to Laiza.[17] The KIA and AA continued defending their headquarters and they allege that junta airstrikes had landed on the Chinese side of the border, east of Laiza.[18] During the fighting, a Lisu junta-aligned Lisu National Development Party militia leader was killed in Aung Myay Thit village.[5]
On 8 March, the KIA captured a junta camp north of Sumprabum and began attacking the town and its junta garrison post on 14 March. The attacks were likely part of a larger objective to block off northern Kachin for future offensives into Putao.[19] A week after the start of the offensive, Dawthponeyan subtownship was captured the KIA.[20]
By 22 March, the KIA claimed to have captured over 50 military outposts and 13 strategically significant junta bases around the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road, including: all outposts surrounding Laiza, battalion headquarters in 5 townships, and camps near the KIA's old headquarters of Pajau.[1] The Irrawaddy predicted on 23 March that the KIA might attack Bhamo, the headquarters of the 21st Military Operations Command, as the next target of their offensive.[21]
On 28 March, KIA seized two junta bases in Yaw Yone and Nga Gayan near Lweje town on the Chinese border in Momauk Township.[22] By 1 April, the KIA captured the entirety of the Bhamo-Lweje road.[23] On 9 April, the KIA captured Lweje, stating that border trade would resume after a few weeks.[24]
On 11 April, Namtyar village was captured by the KIA along the Hpakant-Kamaing road, cutting off one of the major roads to Hpakant.[25] On 24 April, after weeks of attacks, the KIA captured Sezin, cutting off all major roads to Hpakant and completely encircling the town.[26] After capturing the town's police station over a month earlier, the KIA captured Sinbo on 29 April, cutting off the Bhamo-Myitkyina road and encircling Bhamo.[27]
On 4 May, the KIA launched simultaneous offensives on junta positions in several areas throughout Waingmaw Township, capturing several junta bases. Between 4-5 May, the KIA captured the Sumprabum Tactical Command Center and several junta camps around Sumprabum.[28] By 8 May, the entirety of Sumprabum and its surrounding township was captured.[29] The same day, the KIA announced that it had captured over 80 junta outposts, including 11 battalion headquarters, since the start of the offensive.[20] On 9 May, the KIA reported that junta soldiers had withdrew from Momauk, and that they had captured both Momauk and neighboring Mansi's police stations.[30][31] The same day, the KIA launched an attack on the Balaminhtin Bridge at the entrance to Myitkyina.[32] By 13 May, the KIA claimed to have captured half of Mansi.[33] On 16 May, the KIA captured the Nam Byu base southwest of Tanai.[34] On 18 May, KIA-led resistance ambushed reinforcements sent by the junta from Putao to recaptured Sumprabum, leading to heavy junta casualties.[35] The same day, the KIA launched an offensive in Waingmaw Township, capturing almost a dozen junta bases by 20 May.[36] On 19 May, KIA forces captured the junta base controlling the entrance to Waingmaw.[37]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "KIA: Nine Myanmar Junta Strongholds Seized in Two Days". The Irrawaddy. 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar's Military is Being Cornered in Kachin State, Ethnic Army Says". The Irrawaddy. 14 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA Captures 5 Military Bases in One Day .Sadung – Waingmaw Road Declared as Junta-free Zone". Kachin News Group. 12 June 2024.
- ^ "KIA Seizes Three Junta Positions in Battle for Myanmar-China Trade Route". The Irrawaddy. 11 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Junta-allied Lisu militia leader killed in battle with Kachin forces". Myanmar Now. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024.
- ^ "KIA Attacks Over 10 Myanmar Military Outposts on Road Near China Border". The Irrawaddy. 7 March 2024.
- ^ Fight for Myanmar jade mines leaves one dead, 100 homes torched. Radio Free Asia. March 6, 2024. Archived March 14, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ KIA Seizes Myanmar Junta Base Controlling Access to Jade Hub Hpakant. The Irrawaddy. April 11, 2024. Archived April 28, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ KIA Seizes Myanmar Junta’s Final Hpakant Road. The Irrawaddy. April 24, 2024. Archived May 12, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Junta attacks northern Shan State town by air in attempt to halt Kachin forces". Myanmar Now. 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Four Myanmar Junta Battalions Surrounded in Shan Town". The Irrawaddy. 18 January 2024.
- ^ "KIA-Led Troops Seize Another Shan Town From Myanmar Junta". The Irrawaddy. 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar Junta Troops Escape to China After KIA Attack". The Irrawaddy. 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Junta Battalion Controlling Myanmar-China Trade Route Surrenders to KIA". The Irrawaddy. 26 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Tension High Between KIA and TNLA in Northern Shan State". The Irrawaddy. 14 February 2024.
- ^ "KIA mounts new offensive, targeting air base, outposts near Myitkyina and Laiza". Myanmar Now. 7 March 2024.
- ^ Maung Shwe Wah; Min Maung (8 March 2024). "KIA and allies seize three large Myanmar army bases near Laiza". Myanmar NOW.
- ^ "Bombs Hit China as War Escalates in Myanmar's Kachin State". The Irrawaddy. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024.
- ^ Min Min; Maung Shwe Wah. "KIA, allies continue bid to take full control of northern Kachin town".
- ^ a b "KIA Takes Four Towns, Over 80 Myanmar Junta Bases Since Launching Offensive Two Months Ago". The Irrawaddy. 8 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA: Nine Myanmar Junta Strongholds Seized in Two Days". The Irrawaddy. 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar Junta Loses Another Town, More Bases in Four Days of Resistance Attacks". The Irrawaddy. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar Junta Loses More Bases, Scores of Troops in Five Days of Resistance Attacks". The Irrawaddy. 1 April 2024.
- ^ "KIA captures trade hub on China-Myanmar border". Myanmar Now. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA Seizes Myanmar Junta Base Controlling Access to Jade Hub Hpakant". The Irrawaddy. 11 April 2024.
- ^ "KIA Seizes Myanmar Junta's Final Hpakant Road". The Irrawaddy. 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Kachin Independence Army takes control of Sinbo town after overrunning Myanmar military base". Myanmar Now. 29 April 2024.
- ^ "KIA Confirms Capture of Sumprabum Tactical Command Centre and Moves Closer to Complete Control along the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road". Myitkyina Journal. 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Kachin State Suffers Fuel Crisis as Fighting Blocks Trade". The Irrawaddy. 8 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA Advances on Myanmar Junta's Kachin State Power Hub". The Irrawaddy. 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Clashes displace civilians in Kachin State as anti-junta offensive proceeds". Myanmar Now. 9 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA fighters attack Myanmar junta's security gate in Kachin State's Myitkyina Town". Mizzima. 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar's Military is Being Cornered in Kachin State, Ethnic Army Says". The Irrawaddy. 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Another military base falls to KIA-led forces in Myanmar's north". Myanmar Now. 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Reinforcements Sent by Junta Wiped Out by KIA-led Offensive in Putao District". Kachin News Group. 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar's KIA Claims Big Gains in Lightning Kachin Offensive". The Irrawaddy. 20 May 2024.
- ^ "KIA captures junta army base on outskirts of Waingmaw Town, Kachin State". Mizzima. 24 May 2024.