One military vessel returning from Shweku attacked and sunk

The military, which suffered losses in the riverine battles between Shweku and Bhamo in Kachin State, returned towards Mandalay yesterday, September 17, using civilian vessels from Shweku town. While returning, around 6:30 PM, near the village of Mawtale in Katha Township, close to the border with Sagaing Region, they came under further attack from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied forces. "We have learned that civilian vessels, wanting to evade taxes to the KIA, are accompanying the military convoy of barges and tankers as they return," a source told the Irrawaddy Times. According to Kachin military sources, one of the 19 vessels returning, which carried military personnel, was hit and sunk as a result of this attack. While the vessels were returning, the military also carried out bombing attacks on Mawtale village with four jet fighters around 3 PM. The KIA Information and Public Relations Department stated that the interim government military had sent reinforcements to Kachin State by boat in batches last September, and approximately 20 vessels were sunk along the river between Katha and Bhamo due to attacks by KIA allied forces. Only about six of the military convoy managed to dock in Bhamo, and the KIA pursued and engaged the military personnel who disembarked from the vessels, inflicting heavy losses on the military columns near Shinkhan. Photo – wetlet information Caption – Military convoy returning from Shweku