At least 30 civilians have been killed in northern Myanmar's Kachin State during intensified military operations over the past month, according to local reports. Junta troops launched raids and artillery strikes across jade-rich Hpakant township between May 27 and June 16, targeting villages amid clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The violence erupted after approximately 600 troops deployed from Kamaing town in April, reinforcing positions following KIA gains. Upon arrival, soldiers torched jade mining camps and shelled eastern villages, detaining residents and injuring civilians. Hpakant—a key jade mining hub—has seen near-daily clashes since early May when junta forces pushed into mining zones, resulting in arson attacks and mounting civilian casualties.
Residents reported discovering 13 bodies in Hmaw Si Zar and Taung Yar Kone villages since June 12, with locals confirming junta involvement in the Taung Yar Kone killings. Another civilian body was found in Yu Mar village this week. The operations have displaced thousands while trapping others in conflict zones.
Hpakant remains a flashpoint in the nationwide conflict between the military junta and ethnic armed groups, intensifying since the 2021 coup. The KIA has controlled strategic hilltop positions around Hpakant for months, blockading junta supply routes and prompting the recent troop surge.