Burmese Army Shells Landed on Chinese Side of the Border, Aerial Assault Continues

By Tsa Doi La / Kachinland News (KLN) | January 15, 2017

At least five heavy artillery shells fired by Burmese army troops from their recently conquered KIA 3rd Battalion’s Nga Gyang outpost fell on the Chinese side of the border, located just across Zai Awng IDP camp on January 13 at around 8:30 a.m.

On the same day at around 4:30 p.m., a pair of Burmese fighter jets carried out aerial assaults on KIA 12th Battalion’s Man Gau Base in Mansi Township. The airstrikes have reportedly burned down several houses in nearby Loi Hkam village. Following the airstrikes, KIA troops fought Burmese army troops belonging to 13th and 83rd Light Infantry Battalions under 88th Light Infantry Regiment, a KLN’s frontline source reported.

On January 12 at around 1:55 p.m., Burmese artillery units based at Lai Hpawng outpost first pounded KIA Artillery Unit’s position north of Nga Gyang Base, headquarters of KIA’s 3rd Battalion troops under 5th Brigade. Following the heavy shelling, Burmese army ground troops making their way to Hpau Daw Sama Krung and defending KIA troops fought for about 3 hours. On the same day at around 7:25 a.m., Burmese army troops based at Man Dat reportedly fired one 105 mm mortar round towards KIA positions at Loi Jau Bum defended by its 27th Battalion troops under 3rd Brigade.

The previous day on January 11 at around 3:20 p.m., clashes erupted between KIA and Burmese army troops advancing towards Nam Chyun Pa from Man Dat, according to the frontline source.

Fighting took place between KIA’s 3rd Battalion troops under 5th Brigade and Burmese army troops advancing to Nga Gyang Bum on January 10 at around 1:00 p.m. Similarly on January 11 between 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., KIA troops engaged Burmese army troops advancing from Law Hpyu in southeastern Kachin State, a frontline KLN source reported.