The junta’s simultaneous aerial bombings of two villages in Bhamo Township, Kachin State, on 18 March resulted in 13 civilian casualties, according to a ground source close to the locals of Hsinhkan village.
At around 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. on the morning of 18 March, the junta carried out simultaneous aerial bombings on Hsinhkan and Hkuli villages, which are under Kachin Independence Army (KIA) control. Ground sources report that six locals from Hsinhkan village and one woman from Hkuli village were killed in the attacks.
The simultaneous attacks on two villages killed seven civilians and injured six others from two villages, a person close to Hsinhkan locals.
“Aerial bombs landed on Hkuli village, killing a woman named Laphi Liu Bu. Bombs also struck Hsinhkan village, where six people—four civilians and two KIA soldiers—were killed in the attack,” the local source said.
In the aerial bombings of Hsinhkan village, two KIA soldiers, Lashi La Hsaing and Ain Khun Swat Htwel Kunli, along with civilians Daw War War Khaing, Ai Kyaw, and two other men were killed. Meanwhile, in the aerial bombing of Hkuli village, seven people, including Daw Laphi Lu Bu, were killed, and six others were injured.
Both Hsinhkan and Hkuli villages are located in Bhamo Township. There has been no fighting in the area since the KIA took control of the region in March 2024.
Regarding the aerial bombings, KIO Spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu said: “Hsinhkan is an important transportation bridge and was also where the military council troops surrendered. It is close to Bhamo, where fighting is ongoing. I believe these factors led the junta to carry out aerial bombings. It is likely that the junta targeted the area in response to the fighting in Bhamo. The KIA regularly uses the Hsinhkan Bridge, so the junta likely gathered information about it.”
Two civilians were killed and three others injured in the junta’s aerial bombing of Hsinhkan village on 14 February.
Hsinhkan village is located about 36 miles south of Bhamo. Duli village, which lies to the west of Dawthponeyan village, is predominantly inhabited by the Shan people.
In the two-month-long battle for Bhamo, the military council has been carrying out daily airstrikes and drone attacks in an attempt to prevent the town from falling into the hands of the resistance forces.
Sent by KNG
