12 August 2025
A source from the Tatmadaw confirmed to MT News that the Tatmadaw has regained control of Bhamo in Kachin State and has raised the national flag.
The Tatmadaw convoy departed from Gowin Port in Mandalay on July 17 and traveled along the Ayeyarwady River, arriving in Bhamo on August 1.
After taking control of Thabeik Kyin, the Tatmadaw launched a fierce offensive in Bhamo Township and has since taken control of the entire area, according to the source.
“The offensive began last July. By the first week of August, only a few areas remained under the control of the opposition. In the third week of July, the Tatmadaw had already secured more than half of the territory. Now, they have complete control. They raised the national flag of Myanmar yesterday, August 11. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) are retreating. They are losing and are in the minority,” he stated.
After the military convoy arrived in Bhamo, Kachin State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies were forced to surrender the 366th Artillery Battalion, which they had captured in early February, as reported by KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu.
In addition to surrendering the 366th Artillery Battalion, the KIA and its allies also relinquished control of the 7006th Armored Car Battalion, the Tank Battalion, and Bhamo Airport, all due to military drone operations.
The KIA announced plans to seize Bhamo within days and mobilized hundreds of thousands of fighters from the KIA, Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF), and Aung PDF to combat for the city in December 2024. However, their efforts were unsuccessful, leading to a retreat. The attacks from the KIA, KPDF, and Aung PDF have devastated Bhamo, leaving many homes looted and destroyed.
#Tatmadaw #KIA and PDFs #Bhamo #mtnewsupdate
