Joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin People Defense Force (KPDF) have captured three more military camps of the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in Homalin Township along the Sagaing-Kachin border, according to frontline sources.
The resistance forces seized the Shwe Twin and Rar Lar Tee camps in Sagaing’s Homalin Township, located on the opposite bank from Se Zin village in Kachin’s Hpakant Township, on 18 November.
Combined troops of the military junta, SNA and Pyu Saw Htee militia had been stationed in these two camps.
Then, on 19 November at around 5am, the joint KIA-PDF forces took full control of the hilltop post in Saing Pan village, according to reports.
A KIA frontline source said: “We started our offensive in this area on 25 November. Yesterday we captured the camp at Shwe Twin junction and Rar Lar Tee camp. We had Saing Pan camp surrounded since yesterday, but they weren’t inside – they had already fled. That’s why we were able to capture Saing Pan this morning.”
The joint KIA-KPDF forces have been conducting offensive operations against SNA positions along the border between Sagaing Region and Kachin State since 25 October.
This comes after their capture of two military camps – Shit Myet Hnar Pagoda Hill and Pang Chei – in Homalin Township on 3 November, with these additional two camps being captured two weeks later.
According to the KIA frontline source, the targeted positions are located between Homalin Township in Sagaing Region and Se Zin village in Kachin State, within the territory controlled by KIA Battalion 26.
During the offensive operations, two KPDF fighters were killed due to daily airstrikes by the military, and the combined SNA troops also suffered casualties.
A KPDF member said: “You could say the fighting was quite fierce. We had fatalities on our side too. One fell on the full moon day, and another yesterday. SNA side had many casualties. Planes came to strike twice yesterday.”
All five captured camps were jointly operated by the SNA and the military council’s Pyu Saw Htee militia, with approximately 200 personnel.
The offensives by joint KIA forces against the camps of the joint SNA forces along Homalin Township and the Se Zin area, east of the Uyu Creek and the upstream section of Man Sein creek, have now been ongoing for about three weeks.
Sent by KNG.
