The military junta is launching an offensive towards Sinkhan in Shwegu Township, Kachin State, using three columns on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River and one column on the western bank, while joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin Region People’s Defense Force (KPDF) are putting up a resistance, a military source told Mizzima.
These junta columns are primarily targeting the Shwegu-Sinkhan highway, with each column consisting of approximately 200 troops, the source said.
“There are about 200 troops in each column. They are mainly pushing along the Shwegu-Sinkhan highway,” the military source said.
It is reported that the joint KIA and KPDF forces are mainly defending and engaging the columns departing from Shwegu towards Sinkhan along the Tawlan and Zinbon mountain ranges.
“The columns are advancing from Shwegu. The KIA and KPDF are mainly putting up resistance along the Tawlan and Zinbon mountain ranges. The Shwegu-Sinkhan highway also runs parallel to the river,” the source added.
Another column is advancing from the Thinbaw Inn area on the western bank of the Ayeyarwady River in Shwegu, moving towards Sinkhan alongside the three columns from the eastern bank.
Sinkhan is a strategically important location between Shwegu and Bhamo, serving as an intermediate transit route to send military reinforcements and supplies to Bhamo via Shwegu.
The military source opined that the current offensive along the Shwegu-Sinkhan road is likely aimed at clearing the route and securing the area for a military flotilla sailing up the Ayeyarwady River toward Kachin State.
“They are clearing the route with infantry first to allow the ships to pass. They will sail up along the Katha-Shwegu-Sinkhan route. Their objective is to reach Bhamo,” the source said.
The military flotilla, which sailed up from Mandalay along the Ayeyarwady River, had reached Katha and has now departed from there, the military source added.
The flotilla is transporting military reinforcements, weapons, ammunition, and supplies to Kachin State, and has faced interceptive attacks by revolutionary forces along the river.
Furthermore, the KIA and allied forces recently launched a drone attack on a junta column crossing from Shwegu to the western bank of the Ayeyarwady River by motorboat, striking a boat carrying reinforcements.
The military junta is launching ground offensives through Shwegu as well as utilizing the Ayeyarwady River route to replenish troops, weapons, ammunition, and rations to Bhamo. Clashes between the junta forces and the KIA joint coalition continue near Shwegu.
Mizzima