By Hlaing / MPA
The Myanmar military has intensified kamikaze drone attacks on Laiza, Kachin State, according to local sources.
A military drone struck the Brigade 5 neighborhood in Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), at around 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, despite no active clashes in the area.
A Laiza resident told MPA, “We’re not sure exactly where the bombs hit, but it’s said to be near Brigade 5, close to Laiza. The explosions were extremely loud.”
Authorities are still investigating to determine the precise locations of the attacks and assess casualties.
Laiza has been repeatedly targeted in past attacks. The junta previously deployed similar drones to bomb the town and nearby areas on Jan.24 and Feb.25.
A 30-year-old local woman expressed growing concern, “People are worried. When the military bombed Shan villages near Daw Hpun Yang, even houses in Laiza shook.”
Pro-junta social media accounts have been urging the military to bomb Laiza and KIO’s former headquarters in Laisin (Laisin Post) to regain control amid intense fighting in Bhamo.
Another local woman warned, “The threat of airstrikes is a major concern. Whenever the military suffers heavy losses in Bhamo, they start bombing Laiza. We have to stay alert.”
On Feb.19, a military jet carried out a deliberate airstrike on Daw Hpun Yang Town, despite no active clashes. A bomb struck U Maung Oo’s home in Wa Ngan Village, killing seven family members, including three children, all aged 10. Two more bombs devastated Nang Ei Village, injuring five people, including a child.
The junta has repeatedly launched indiscriminate airstrikes on non-combat areas whenever they lose strategic battalions or outposts, using airpower as a retaliation tactic.
Meanwhile, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is advancing toward Bhamo, about 60 miles from Laiza, in an effort to secure the town. In response, the military has deployed jet fighters, transport aircraft, and drones to counter the offensive.
