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Fighting in Myanmar's Kachin State Displaces Thousands, Kills at Least 10 Civilians.
Fighting between Myanmar's junta troops and Kachin Independence Army forces in Kachin state displaces 10,000 people and kills at least 10 civilians, amid escalating conflict since the 2021 military coup.
Flag of Myanmar. (Vecteezy)
Thousands of people have fled fighting between ethnic minority guerrillas and Myanmar junta troops in Kachin state, which entered its fifth day on Thursday, with at least 10 civilians killed in the crossfire, residents told Radio Free Asia.
The autonomy-seeking Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied militias have made significant gains in the northernmost state since launching an offensive in March, forcing junta troops into dwindling areas of control. The insurgents have surrounded and attacked Hseng Taung village, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding many more.
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A resident of Hpakant township, a major jade-producing region, described the intense fighting, saying, "People died after being hit by both heavy and small weapons. There are a lot of wounded. Many, many houses have been destroyed. Bullets were raining down." Junta airstrikes also sparked major fires in the town, witnesses said.
The KIA-led attackers seized and burned down the Hseng Taung police station, sources close to an anti-junta People's Defense Force (PDF) said. About 60 soldiers were at the police station when the attack was launched, and some were killed, caught alive, or fled.
KIA fighters have sealed off all roads in and out of the village, said Col. Naw Bu, a KIA spokesman. Residents said around 10,000 people had fled the village over five days, seeking refuge in nearby towns. The KIA and allied forces control most roads in and out of Hpakant town and have captured all but five junta bases in the township.
The fighting is the latest setback for the military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, and has faced significant resistance from ethnic minority groups and anti-junta forces.
