Burma Army artillery strikes have destroyed or damaged many houses as it attempted to wrestle back control of strategic mountain tops Alaw Bum and Salaung Hill from Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

Shells struck homes in Bhamo and Momauk townships in Kachin State. But fighting has been particularly intense around the Kachin village Mada Yan.

Locals told NMG the military has been flying jet fighters over the village every day to attack KIA positions since May 11.

Five fighter jets attacked KIA Battalion 27 (Brigade-3) near Mada Yang village on May 15.

A man from Momauk town explained most of the residents of the village in Mansi Township fled after it was attacked.

Mansa, the closest village to Mada Yang, was spared, he said. However, with jet fighters constantly flying overhead, residents are hunkering down in bunkers.

“If clashes continue in the area, I think the number of IDPs (internally displaced persons) will increase," the man said, explaining that Momauk is about two miles from Mada Yang and Mansa.

Recent shelling in Nawng Kon damaged most of the roofs in the village. The artillery strikes, which are being launched from Bhamo, also affected Konlaw and Myo Thit villages in Momauk Township.

"Burma Army is indiscriminately firing artillery, and shells are landing in civilian villages. No one is safe to live in the area during the fighting,” he said.

Col Naw Bu, spokesperson for Kachin Independence Organization, KIA's political wing, heard about the attack on Mada Yan but didn't have a field report.

Locals said Burma Army are dispatching reinforcements to the areas around the village.