The junta retaliates after the attack on a passenger plane

MYITKYINA — Myanmar’s military has intensified airstrikes across Kachin State following a drone attack on a Myanmar National Airlines aircraft last week, raising fears of further civilian casualties.

Since 18 February, strikes have hit Laiza — headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) — as well as Waingmaw, Hpakant, Mansi and Momauk townships. Local sources reported fresh bombings near Washawng and Lamyang villages in Waingmaw, and near Minjang in Momauk on Monday morning. Casualty figures remain unclear.

The escalation came after an ATR 72‑600 passenger plane was struck by a suicide drone while parked at Myitkyina Airport on 20 February. The junta accused the KIA of responsibility and vowed to respond “effectively and intensively”. KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu denied targeting civilian aircraft.

Residents say the attacks have spread beyond frontline areas. In Myitkyina, artillery shells damaged five houses and injured two people on 20 February. “An explosion occurred in the town and damaged nearby cars,” one resident said, adding that people fear they have nowhere safe to flee if strikes intensify.

Laiza TV, the KIA’s media outlet, reported multiple bombings in Waingmaw and Hpakant, killing at least three civilians and injuring several more. Human rights groups warn the junta is deliberately targeting populated areas. Kachin Human Rights Watch said 23 people were killed and 25 injured in January alone, accusing the regime of systematic abuses.

The conflict has shifted sharply in recent months. The KIA and allied forces have captured 14 towns across Kachin State since December, seizing most junta bases in Bhamo and Waingmaw. Analysts say the air campaign reflects the military’s struggle to regain control on the ground.

For civilians, however, the immediate concern is survival. As strikes intensify, residents across Kachin State face mounting uncertainty, with little protection against the regime’s expanding aerial war.

-2026-02-24