The military launched airstrike on Laiza after the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and joint forces attacked and captured the light infantry battalion-321 based in Shwe Naungpin in Waimaw, Kachin State, at past 8:00 pm., on May 21, 2024.
The military jet bombed near Laiza where the KIA/KIO headquarters three times at around 11:00 p.m. on May 21, 2024.
“The junta jet fighters came and bombed around Laiza,” said a local resident of Laiza.
When the military jet fighters bombed Laiza, one of the jet fighters reached the border of China, and China fired intimidation.
“In the past, if they (junta) bombed Laiza, they would fly over the Chinese side and then shoot. Now, China will not allow junta jets to overrun their territory. Next time, there is a situation where they will shoot down. Yesterday, it was only a situation of threatening,” said a person close to KIA.
After the KIA, AA and KPDF joint forces started to offensive attack the light infantry battalion-321 based in Shwe Naung Pin under the Northern Regional Military Command on May 18, the battalion 321 was finally captured on May 21.
The Shwe Nyaung Pin military base occupied by the KIA is strategic for Waimaw Township and a large military base built for defense, controlling the entrance and exit of Waimaw Town. Therefore, the military bombed Laiza, KIA headquarters, as retaliation, according to military analysts.
“If they lost the war, it is the custom of the military to target civilians, and the camp they lost was a strategic camp, so they bombed it,” said a military analyst.
After the first offensive attack on a large military base by the KIA in the first week of March 2024, they retreated, and they were able to capture the military base for the second time.