One civilian killed by airstrikes in Sagaing Region as Myanmar Navy fleet reaches Kachin State

Sources in Sagaing Region told DVB that one civilian was killed and five others were injured by airstrikes carried out by six Myanmar Air Force jets escorting 17 Myanmar Navy vessels through Katha Township along the Irrawaddy River on Saturday. Katha is located 223 miles (358 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa. 

A People’s Defence Force (PDF) member told DVB that the naval fleet reached Kyaukkyi village of Shwegu Township in Kachin State on July 26.

Sources told DVB that the fleet is headed toward Kachin’s Bhamo Township, where fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime forces has been ongoing since Dec. 4. Shwegu is located along the Irrawaddy River 29 miles (46 km) east of Katha and 64 miles (103 km) west of Bhamo.