Since early 2025, the Myanmar’s military under State of Administration Council (SAC) and its allied forces have been making military preparations in areas west of the Ayeyarwady River, including the Moehnyin, Hpakant, Tanai regions and Ledo Road.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has based its military strategy on the eastern and western sides of the Ayeyarwady River. After the KIA joint forces captured much of the territory on the river’s eastern side, the Myanmar’s military has intensified preparations to prevent losing control of the western side again.
The Myanmar’s army and allied forces, including the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) and the Min Zay Thant militia, have launched offensive attacks on KIA camps. They are establishing military lines, conducting military parades, increasing inspections, and recruiting new soldiers.
Moehnyin-Hopin-Moe Kaung Area: Key Strategic Location
The SNA is focusing its military preparations along the Moe Kaung-Hopin-MoeNyin road and in the Indawgyi area, implementing strict checks on locals and tourists.
In early 2025, the SNA formed Brigade 565, based in Moe Kaung and Moe Nyin, and began holding military parades, performing military preparations, and enforcing stringent inspections. The SNA’s most significant action was a military demonstration in October 2024 when hundreds of troops marched through Moehnyin town.
The SNA, which once fought against the Myanmar’s junta, now operates alongside it in the Moehnyin, Moe Kaung, and Hpakant regions.
After joining the military council in 2022, the SNA has played a key role in securing the Moe Kaung-Hopin-Moe Nyin region, an essential trade route linking Kachin State with lower Myanmar via the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway and the Union Highway.
Tanai Region: Resource-Rich and Strategic
In the villages along the Ledo Highway in the Tanai region, military conflict has flared up between the Wara Zaw People’s Army, led by Min Zay Thant, and the KIA since January 2025.
The Ledo Highway, built during World War II to transport military supplies between India, Burma, and China, spans over 1,700 Kilometers.
On March 6, Myanmar’s army fighter jets bombed the village of Shadu Zup along the Ledo Road, targeting KIA Battalion (14) in Tanai and Wakha Shwe Maw. The Min Zay Thant militia, with over 300 members, attacked KIA positions on the ground, claiming to have captured a forward outpost.
Media photos revealed the bodies of KIA soldiers and captured weapons and ammunition.
The Tanai region, rich in precious resources like gold and amber, is of great strategic importance to the Myanmar’s army and Min Zay Thant’s militia.
Hpakant Region: Renewed Tensions
After a period of relative calm following the Sing Taung battle in September 2024, military tensions have again escalated in the Hpakant region.
On March 5, the Myanmar’s army air force bombed the KIA Battalion 6 area in Hpakant, though there were no reported injuries.
Similar bombings occurred on February 27, Myanmar troops attacked a KIA checkpoint, killing one KIA soldier.
Recently, Myanmar’s army forces have openly displayed their power in Hpakant town, firing heavy weapons. Locals have been ordered by the KIA to dig trenches in anticipation of further conflict.
Reports indicate the KIA controls around 80% of the Hpakant region, which is known for its jade deposits, with only five military council bases remaining, including the one in Hpakant town.
Will the KIA Joint Forces Expand Their Operations to the Western Side of the Ayeyarwady River?
Both the Myanmar’s army and the SNA are engaged in forced recruitment as part of their military preparations. The KIA joint forces are also facing local criticism for similar actions. As both sides compete to bolster their ranks, local residents fear the fighting will intensify.
As of March 9, there were signs of military tension between Myanmar’s army and the KIA joint forces on the western side of the Ayeyarwady River, though no major clashes have been reported.
The KIA has been mounting attacks on Bhamo, the largest city on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, for the past three months. The KIA has captured an armored battalion, a tank battalion, an artillery battalion, the 236th Infantry Division, and Bhamo Airfield.
Currently, KIA is focusing on attacking the Operation Command Headquarters 21 of the Myanmar’s army in Bhamo, considered one of the largest strongholds in the city.
If Bhamo falls, it would effectively mean the entire eastern side of the Ayeyarwady River is under KIA control, prompting the military council to prioritize maintaining control of the western side.
The western side of the Ayeyarwady River includes critical regions like Hpakant (known for its jade), Tanai (rich in gold and amber), and Kachin State, which serves as a key strategic link between lower Myanmar and the northern regions. The military council is preparing for a potential military coup, particularly because the Moehnyin-Hopin-Moe Kaung areas are vital for transportation and trade.
Military analysts suggest that if these regions fall to the KIA, the KIA’s joint forces could continue their offensive westward, threatening the military council’s revenue streams and control over vital resources.
This is a translation of original Thai article https://transbordernews.in.th/home/?p=41677
