Irrawaddy-Feb 23
The Myanmar regime has escalated its aerial attacks in Kachin State, including Laiza—home to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)’s headquarters—since February 18, according to sources in the state. The aerial attacks occurred in Laiza, near the Chinese border, and in Waingmaw, Hpakant, Mansi and Momauk townships.
On Monday morning, the junta bombed near Washawng and Lamyang villages in Waingmaw, where junta and KIA forces have frequently clashed, and near Minjang Village in Momauk, according to the local sources. The junta’s aerial attacks became more frequent after an ATR 72-600 aircraft operated by Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) was hit by a suicide drone while on the ground at Myitkyina Airport on February 20, a source said.
The junta accused the KIA of launching the drone attack and announced it would respond “effectively and intensively”, but KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu denied the ethnic army had launched attacks on civilian targets. In Kachin State’s capital, Myitkyina, junta artillery shells struck the 4th Ward, damaging five houses and injuring two people, on February 20, a resident told The Irrawaddy. She said residents are worried about junta aerial attacks across Kachin State, adding that if attacks occur against Myitkyina, residents would have nowhere to flee to. Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW) said it was worried about potential loss of civilian life, as the junta had shown its intent to target civilians. KHRW said the junta killed 23 people and injured 25 in January and committed other human rights violations. Read more at:
