Only 7 of 15 Regime Supply Vessels Reach Embattled Bhamo

Less than half of a 15-vessel military supply flotilla carrying reinforcements, rations and ammunition managed to reach the embattled town of Bhamo in Kachin State on Thursday, after coming under sustained attack by resistance groups along the Irrawaddy River.

Observers noted that the battle for control of Bhamo—Kachin State’s second-largest town—will likely be prolonged now that fresh military supplies have reached regime bases there.

The flotilla, consisting of tugboats and gunboats, departed Mandalay for Bhamo via the Irrawaddy River on August 21. To clear a path in advance, regime fighter jets and Y-12 aircraft indiscriminately bombed resistance-controlled areas along the river route in Sagaing Region’s Katha Township and adjacent Shwegu

Despite the destruction of civilian houses, there were only a few reports of casualties, as residents along the route were warned by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied resistance groups to evacuate the areas in advance.

Heavy clashes with the KIA and its allies were also reported in Shwegu for over a week ahead of the arrival of the flotilla, as large numbers of regime forces conducted raids in four directions including along the river after the Myanmar military sent more combat troops to the township.

A barge and tugboat of the military flotilla dock at Bhamo, Kachin State, after facing resistance attacks along the Irrawaddy River route for many days. / Lung Jung LA N’s Facebook

During the fighting, the KIA and its allies managed to block and attack regime forces in the Ngar-O area to the southwest of Shwegu and inflicted casualties on regime forces operating upstream of the town.

Immediately after crossing into Kachin State on August 28, the flotilla came under intense attack near Bokone in Shwegu Township. It was stuck in Shwegu port for days while regime warplanes pounded nearby areas with bombs and cluster munitions.

Regime escort vessels traveling upstream to clear a path came under attack near Zinbon Village on August 30, suffering heavy casualties.

KIA and allied troops seized a regime base in Zinbon, affording control of the river route, according to KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu.

Resistance forces also seized and burned a tugboat from the flotilla on Sunday.

Intense clashes broke out Wednesday when the flotilla’s remaining vessels were intercepted and came under fierce attack by the KIA and allies at a chokepoint on the river.

During a day of intense fighting, seven vessels were damaged, sunk or destroyed by the resistance forces. Seven vessels managed to pass through the chokepoint.

A vessel from a miliary supply flotilla that was seized and destroyed by the KIA and allies in Shwegu Township this week. / CJ

Videos show resistance forces instructing regime soldiers adrift in the river to swim to them.

During the clashes, at least 180 regime personnel and family members, including women and children, from the stricken vessels surrendered to the resistance, according to frontline KIA sources.

Videos also show KIA troops evacuating surrendered regime troops and their family members from the clash site.

Supported by aircraft, the remaining seven regime vessels including two gunboats arrived in Bhamo on Thursday, local resistance sources confirmed to media.

In August last year, the regime sent a flotilla of 17 resupply vessels to Bhamo, but only 11 reached their destination after a series of resistance attacks.

The regime supply flotilla heads upstream on the Irrawaddy River in Shwegu Township this week. / Lung Jung LA N’s Facebook

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Col. Naw Bu said, “Eventually, we will gain the advantage in the battle for Bhamo. They transport supplies via the waterway every year. With that kind of river-based supply method, they cannot last long.”

As the state’s second-largest town, and reachable by boat, Bhamo is strategically crucial for both the regime and the KIA, Naw Bu added.

“We must fight until we are victorious, as it plays a vital role.”

However, former army Captain Zin Yaw, who has monitored Myanmar’s conflict since defecting from the military following the 2021 coup, said the regime forces based in Bhamo would likely shift from their current defensive posture and launch offensives to try and take more territory in nearby areas, now that fresh supplies had arrived.

He said KIA and resistance forces were not in a position to completely seize the city, adding that further intense clashes were expected in northern Bhamo, where the KIA holds positions.

Along with several resistance groups, the KIA launched a major offensive in Bhamo in late 2024, seizing most of the town, but it was later forced to withdraw under heavy aerial bombardment by junta aircraft, as well as attacks by high-tech drones believed to be supplied by China and Russia.

In a virtual address at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Kachin Revolution held in the US state of Texas in early 2026, Gun Maw, vice chair of the Kachin Independence Council (KIC), the administrative arm of the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA), said, “The battle for Bhamo is a political battle for dignity.”

“We know it will take time and resources, but we continue because it is necessary,” he said.