Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and coup junta forces in Bhamo Town, Kachin State, intensified again on January 14, the KIA reported.

Although clashes had eased somewhat over the past week, they resumed around 6:00 a.m. on January 14, with the junta using airstrikes, drone attacks, and heavy artillery, according to the KIA.

Details about the exact locations of the fiercest fighting in Bhamo are not yet clear, but KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu told MNJ that heavy artillery fire was louder and more intense than in previous clashes.

“It was more intense than usual. The sounds of artillery blasts were much louder than before. We don’t yet know which sectors were the fiercest,” he said.

Daily skirmishes are common in Bhamo, with some days seeing heavier fighting than others, Colonel Naw Bu added.

Reports have emerged that KIA fighters may have captured the junta’s Logistics Battalion 933 during the January 14 clashes, but Colonel Naw Bu said this has not been confirmed.

Since December 25 of last year, fighting around Bhamo has intensified, with the KIA retaking some areas previously controlled by the junta. After a brief period of relative calm, clashes surged again on January 14.

Bhamo, the second-largest town in Kachin State, has been at the center of KIA-led attacks on junta bases since December 4, 2024. The offensive has now stretched beyond a year.

During the KIA-led offensive to capture Bhamo, the coalition took control of two-thirds of the town, including several key positions.

Following the last rainy season, junta forces launched counterattacks, sparking renewed heavy clashes, Colonel Naw Bu told MNJ earlier.