30 April 2026 By Hsu Yee
INDAW, Myanmar — Military tensions have escalated sharply in northern Sagaing Region as junta troops, backed by aerial bombardment, advanced toward the strategic town of Indaw on Thursday morning.
The offensive, which began on 21 April with several hundred troops from the Katha-based Light Infantry Battalion 309, reached the Naba junction on Wednesday. After a night of rest, a significant portion of the column began its final push toward Indaw at approximately 9:00 AM today, local military sources confirmed.
“The column moved out toward Indaw this morning after reaching the Naba junction yesterday,” a military source told MPA. “There was heavy fighting near Kan Ni and Saw Maw Taung Pagoda before they reached Naba. Our forces had to conduct a strategic withdrawal, which allowed the junta troops to enter the area.”
In coordination with the ground advance, the military deployed a Y-12 transport plane to drop bombs on the forested areas near Kyan Taw and Kan Ni villages at around 11:40 AM. These areas are key defensive positions for local resistance groups.
Indaw, situated on the vital Shwebo-Myitkyina highway, has been under the control of resistance forces since it was captured on 7 April 2025. Its recapture is seen as a high priority for the military junta as it seeks to secure logistics lines between central Myanmar and Kachin State.
The military movement has triggered a fresh wave of displacement. Residents from several villages, including Naba, Kan Ni, Na Ra Khaung, and Kyan Taw, have begun fleeing into safer areas. “The nearby villages are largely emptied,” the source added. “While some residents have stayed behind, many are now seeking refuge in the jungle to avoid the shelling and airstrikes.”
As the junta intensifies its campaign to reclaim lost territories in the north, the humanitarian situation in Sagaing continues to deteriorate. Local monitoring group Indaw Revolution reported that the military’s reliance on airpower suggests an attempt to clear the path for ground troops through sheer force.
As of late Thursday afternoon, the military column remained on the move, with further clashes expected as they approach the outskirts of Indaw.
