Intense fighting between the Myanmar military junta and resistance forces has escalated across Bhamo, Shwegu, and Khaunglanhpu townships in Kachin State, cutting off vital transit routes and forcing hundreds of civilians to flee.
Heavy clashes erupted on July 30 near Nam Hpar Village, located a few miles outside Bhamo—the administrative seat of Bhamo Township.
Frontline resistance sources and statements from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) indicate that fighting intensified after junta troops reinforced their positions and launched an offensive to retake KIA-controlled territory.
During the offensive, junta forces deployed drones to destroy two bridges—one old and one newly built—spanning a stream near Nam Hpar Village along the strategic Bhamo-Shwegu Road. The destruction has cut off heavy transport, leaving only pedestrians and motorcycles able to cross with extreme caution.
“Fighting is happening almost every day, with the junta using artillery, drones, and airstrikes,” a resident from Nam Hpar said. “Because the bridges are destroyed, large cargo vehicles can no longer cross, leaving local communities in a dire situation.”
The conflict has also escalated further south in Shwegu Township, particularly near Ngarbatgyi Village along the Ayeyarwady River. In July, junta airstrikes and indiscriminate shelling killed two civilians, including a 12-year-old child.
According to a local resistance fighter, regime troops stationed in downtown Shwegu have been launching near-daily bombardment against riverfront settlements.
At least 15 civilians have been killed by artillery fire and summary killings since fighting erupted in Shwegu Township on June 11. While residents have attempted to flee downtown Shwegu amid round-the-clock shelling, many remain trapped after junta forces blockaded the town, preventing civilian movement.
In northern Kachin State’s Khaunglanhpu Township, near-daily clashes between junta forces and the KIA have forced scores of residents to flee toward Putao Township.
Simultaneously, heavy fighting has broken out along the Kachin State–Sagaing Region border, where the KIA is engaged with the junta-aligned Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in Indaw and Homalin townships, leaving hundreds more civilians displaced.
