Resistance Forces Close In on Katha

CJ

Fierce fighting has erupted in Katha, a strategic town on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, as resistance forces press their offensive against junta troops. The assault, which began on 28 December, has left much of the town encircled and forced thousands of residents to flee amid heavy artillery fire and airstrikes.

Katha, lying on the border between Sagaing and Kachin State, was among the townships included in the first phase of the junta-organised election. Yet even as ballots were being counted, resistance groups launched coordinated attacks on regime positions, including the Light Infantry Battalion 309 headquarters. By 31 December, revolutionary forces claimed to have seized a military outpost at the town’s entrance and were close to full control.

Local sources report that clashes are ongoing in several wards, with artillery and air raids destroying homes and monasteries. Residents say more than 50 bombs were dropped overnight, leaving wards 5 and 8 deserted. Most civilians have fled to nearby towns such as Mohnyin, Mawlu and Meza, or into the forests, though some remain trapped at checkpoints along the Sagaing–Kachin border.

The offensive involves multiple groups, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), People’s Defense Forces (PDF), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and the newly formed Spring Revolution Alliance. Analysts suggest that capturing Katha would give the resistance a significant advantage, opening the gateway to Kachin State and shifting the military balance if paired with control of Htigyaing further downstream.

Reports indicate that more than 50 junta soldiers were captured alive during the battles, while regime forces responded with aerial bombardments in an attempt to hold their ground. Despite the strikes, resistance groups say they have secured most of the town’s entrances and continue to tighten their grip.

The battle for Katha marks a dramatic escalation in the New Year offensive launched by resistance forces, coinciding with the junta’s election drive. For many residents, the fight has brought devastation and displacement, while for the resistance it represents a pivotal moment in their campaign to challenge military rule.

-2025-01-03