Kachin Independence Army attacks military position in Sagaing Region

One civilian was killed in Katha Township, Sagaing Region, by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drone, attack carried out by an unknown armed group during fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime forces on Tuesday.

Katha residents told DVB on the condition of anonymity that regime forces have shut down all access into the town since Dec. 29. Katha is located 223 miles (359 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.

Sources close to the KIA told DVB that the ethnic armed group launched an offensive against the regime Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 309, which served as security on Dec. 28, the first day of the regime’s 2025-26 elections. No casualties were reported.

Other resistance members on the frontline told DVB that the KIA captured an undisclosed number of military outposts, following the fighting on Dec. 28. Neither the KIA nor the regime has confirmed this to DVB.