Two junta warships advancing to Katha Township from Tigyaing(a.k.a)Htigyaing Township, situated in the Sagaing Region and Kachin State border area, were hit again and are currently stationed at the Thahpankaing jetty in Katha Township, according to members of the local administrative team.
According to a member of the local administrative team in Katha Township, three junta warships advancing to Katha Township from Tigyaing Township were attacked again around 5 a.m. on 2 September, with two of the warships being hit.
A member of the local administrative team from Katha Township said: “ Three junta warships are now stationed at the Thahpankaing jetty in Katha Township. We attacked around 9 a.m., which was quite effective, resulting in two junta warships being hit. One ship is still burning.”
According to him, one of the ships caught fire, so they briefly stopped in the middle of the waterway to extinguish the flames before continuing their journey.
According to Colonel Naw Bu, spokesperson for the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization) Information Department, out of the five junta warships that arrived in Tigyaing Township on the morning of 1 September, two were also attacked by revolutionary forces from Tigyaing Township, resulting in their destruction.
Colonel Naw Bu said: “ The exact details are unclear. What we have heard is that, out of the five junta warships that advanced from Myataung village in Tigyaing Township, two were attacked and destroyed by the revolutionary forces. Remaining ships are advancing their journey towards Kachin State.”
The ground people defense forces have also confirmed that two junta warships remained in Tigyaing Township, while the remaining three junta warships have already arrived in Katha Township.
Since Myanmar’s military junta seized power in a coup in 2021, they have increasingly relied on the Ayeyarwady River to transport supplies and military equipment to cities along the borders of Sagaing Region and Kachin State, as revolutionary forces in these areas have become stronger.
However, in March 2024, the KIA(The Kachin Independence Army) and PDF(The People’s Defence Force) allied forces carried out intensified military operations across the entire Kachin State and were able to control the Ayeyarwady River Route in Kachin State.
Therefore, during the high water levels of the Ayeyarwady River, the military junta, which normally relies on river transport for resupplying its forces, is unable to use this method. However, due to the intense fighting in Tigyaing, this is the first time this year that they have used river transport to resupply their forces, according to the defense forces.
A revolutionary comrade said: “ This may be a part of the military junta’s standard logistics operations. It could also indicate that they are intensifying reinforcements to secure Tigyaing Town. Normally, they use warships to travel up to Bhamo City in Kachin State. Currently, only one junta’s stronghold remains in Tigyaing Town. If Tigyaing falls, the river routes will be under the control of the revolutionary forces, so it seems they are making efforts specifically to prevent this.”
Tigyaing Revolution TR reported that six civilians were killed in airstrikes on Maungkon village in Tigyaing Township the previous day. Meanwhile, as the warships advanced, airstrikes continued to be carried out to provide support.
Although it is not yet known how far the warships will advance this time, experts familiar with the ground sources assess that it will not be easy for them to enter Kachin State.
A PDF comrade said: “ I guess that they will turn back from Katha township. Since Bhamo City has air access, supplies will be delivered by air. With these three warships, it won’t be easy to reach Bhamo City. The reason is that the route they need to advance from Katha to Bhamo is under our control.”
Revolutionary forces along the Ayeyarwady River in Katha Township were able to control the Ayeyarwady’s second narrow gorges(defiles) and the Ayeyarwady Bridge (Hsinhkan) in Bhamo Township following the battles around March.
Starting from the last week of August, the junta’s eight warships advanced from Gawain Port, Mandalay City. However, due to attacks by revolutionary forces during their journey, only three ships remained when they reached Katha Township.
Starting from 15 August, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), defense forces under the control of the National Unity Government (NUG), the ABSDF(All Burma Students’ Democratic Front) student army, and local defense forces have been conducting town-capturing battles in towns along the Sagaing and Kachin borders.
They are primarily focusing on capturing Pinlebu, Indaw, and Tigyaing towns, with fierce fighting occurring daily. As a result of these clashes, the Mandalay-Kachin road has been closed for approximately three weeks.
