Captain killed as clashes erupt in Myanmar

Mizzima

Heavy fighting has erupted across Myanmar, with resistance forces striking military positions in both Karen State and Kachin State, leaving junta officers dead and civilians caught in the crossfire.

On 26 September, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) attacked Artillery Battalion 312 in Kawkareik with rockets and drones. A junta warrant officer was killed, according to local sources. The following day, junta troops retaliated with heavy shelling into nearby villages, killing an elderly woman in Naung Ta Lar and injuring another resident. Locals say indiscriminate shelling has continued daily for nearly a month, with dozens of rounds fired into surrounding communities.

Residents report the military has fortified positions along the Myawaddy–Asia Road and the Kawkareik–Kyondo Highway, installing CCTV and bunkers while stepping up forced conscription in the area.

Meanwhile, in Kachin State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched an artillery strike on 28 September against a joint column of junta troops, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) and local militias near Indawgyi. A junta captain was killed, and the column retreated after suffering casualties. Sources claim some of the militia fighters had recently completed training inside a Kachin Baptist Convention church compound, sparking condemnation from KIA officials who warned the use of religious sites for military purposes could inflame tensions.

The clashes highlight the escalating conflict across Myanmar, where resistance groups continue to mount coordinated attacks while civilians face daily bombardments and forced recruitment.

-2026-09-30