Regime forces advance toward jade mining hub of Hpakant in Myanmar’s northern Kachin State

A source in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) told DVB that resistance forces have been engaged with regime forces near Lonekhin village of Hpakant Township, Kachin State, on Wednesday. Lonekhin is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of Hpakant town which has been under KIA control since April 2024. 

“KIA-led resistance forces intercepted a group that had split from the 600-strong regime column near Namyathna Pagoda, close to Lonekhin,” the source told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that the column, which advanced toward Hpakant via the Kamaing road, split into smaller groups to attack resistance forces simultaneously in Lonekhin.