Fighting is raging in Seikmu Township, part of Hpakant Township in Kachin State, leaving residents trapped, locals reported.

Since January 30, junta troops from Htonebo Village in Hpakant Township have been attacking KIA-controlled Seikmu Village, sparking intense battles, a Hpakant resident said.

“The fighting flared up sharply once the junta began their attack,” he told KNG.

Fighting continues to escalate as the junta’s offensive is being pushed back by the KIA and allied Kachin People’s Defence Force (KPDF), a KPDF member confirmed.

“The enemy is estimated to have about 100 troops. The fighting is still ongoing, and I think we’ll be able to share more details later,” he said.

When the junta launched the surprise attack, many villagers in Htonebo and nearby villages along its route got caught up in the fighting.

The junta has also been shelling the active combat zone from its Hpakant Town-based artillery battalion.

“We can confirm that people are trapped in the fighting right now. The situation is worrying, and we need to keep their safety in mind when planning any operation. For now, we urge everyone to stay indoors as much as possible,” the KPDF member said.

There were some artillery exchanges in Hpakant Town on January 25, the day of the last round of voting in the junta-run election. The situation then calmed for a few days, but fighting flared up again on January 30.

In April 2024, the KIA captured Namya and Namtein villages on the Hpakant-Myitkyina Highway, but the junta and allied militias regained control after a five-month offensive in August 2025.

During the five-month counteroffensive, the junta regained control of some of the previously lost major villages with large populations in Hpakant Township and Lone Khin Village Tract.