Lawa village in Hpakant Township has been left in ruins, with around 100 homes burned to the ground and at least 10 civilians detained, according to local sources.
The village sits along the Lido Road between Hpakant and Tanai, an area that has seen heavy fighting for nearly a month.
On April 15, the junta troop and allied Warazup Militia Force launched airstrikes near the village and then set fire to buildings, including homes and the morning market, a local man from Lawa told KNG.
“The military situation in Lawar is dire. Our village is being destroyed—homes are burning, airstrikes are frequent, and civilians are dying,” he said. “We’re struggling to understand why this is happening. There is no military base here. It’s just ordinary people trying to live.”
As of April 16, fires were still burning in the village, and at least 15 civilians were reportedly being held in detention.
The assault came just two weeks after joint KIA forces drove out Burma military and militia troops occupying a local school and residential homes on March 31. The KIA briefly took control of the area but withdrew after heavy airstrikes on April 15, triggering renewed clashes.
“Both sides are fighting back and forth for control,” said a local source. “One side enters, the other retaliates. On April 15, the military and militia re-entered Lawa. The KIA resisted, and the military responded with two or three bombing runs. Civilians are trapped in between.”
Among the casualties was Nla Naw, a mentally ill man around 40 years old, who was reportedly killed by the junta troops.
This is not the first time Lawa has come under attack. An airstrike on April 1 damaged school buildings and killed at least nine cattle.
The conflict has had devastating effects on the local population. More than 1,000 residents from Lawa, Hkum Tsai Yang, and Magaung Taung villages have fled to nearby Moegaung and Namti towns. Many left with nothing but what they could carry, and their situation is becoming increasingly desperate.
“The displaced people are hoping for the fighting to stop so they can return to their homes,” said a local volunteer supporting the displaced. “They’re appealing to both sides to end the violence.”
Lawa village sits at a key junction on the Lido Road, leading to the Hpakant and Tanai gold mining regions. The area has long been under the control of the Kachin Independence Army KIA, with Battalions 11, 20, and 34 operating under Brigade 2.
Since early 2025, Min Zay Thant, leader of the Warazup Militia Force, has launched joint operations with the junta’s Infantry Battalion 297 based in Shaduzup and Infantry Battalion 298 based in Dumbang, in an effort to wrest control of the area.
Residents said Lawa has been bombed by airstrikes at least 10 times over the past month, with fighting continuing daily. At least three civilians have been injured in the crossfire.
The conflict began on March 23, when military and militia forces entered Lawa and attacked KIA outposts. It shows no signs of ending soon.
The destruction in Lawa comes amid growing reports of intensified military offensives across Kachin State, even as the junta claims to be observing a ceasefire.
