Burmese army withdrew its troops after one of the most intense fighting against Kachin Independent Army near Kachin administrative capital Laiza on Dec 14.

The fierce battle started as Burmese army’s mortar fire began at 5 am on Dec 14. About 400 government soldiers from 384^th LIR, 383^rd LIR and 40^th LIB under MOC-3 began an offensive against KIA capital security forces and ABSDF troops at Laja-yang located on Myitkyina-Laiza-Bhamo road. Meanwhile, Burmese army’s Dawhpum-yang-based 367^th artillery unit fired several rounds of 105 mm and 120 mm mortar shells on Laja-yang village to aid advancing ground troops.

According to local sources, as Burmese army suffered increasing combat casualties, three helicopters came to aid ground troops and fired rockets on KIA’s positions for two times at 11 am and 2 pm on Dec 14. Local residents described helicopters as Russian-made Mi-24s as they can see two mounted stub wings capable of carrying rockets and automatic cannons. One helicopter was being shot by KIA and seen flew away with spewing black smoke.

The exhausted government troops finally withdrawn to their temporary posts at around 6 pm after several attempts were made to reach to their stranded post in Lung Rawk. Frontline sources say about 50 government soldiers and three KIA soldiers died in this fierce battle. One major, 2 captains and 4 lieutenants from Burmese army were among the wounded. KIA reportedly captured 7 POWs, 5 MA assault rifles, one RPG bazooka and a number of mortar shells.

In another front, an intense battle took place between KIA’s Padang Sector and Burmese army’s 10^th LIB under Magway-based 88^th LID near border post no. 6 at 10:30 am on Dec 14. A mortar shell fired by Burmese army landed on Chinese soil hitting a temporary house for Chinese border guard troops, reported a frontline source.

A series of battle took place between the two sides at border post no. 6 near Pang Wa in recent days. Burmese army reportedly fired rockets from two Russian-made Mi-24 attack helicopters on KIA’s positions during battles between KIA’s 33^rd Battalion under 1^st Brigade and a combined force of Burmese army’s 88^th LID and Northern Regional Command on Dec 10.