22 April 2026 By Hsu Yee
KATHA, Myanmar — The Myanmar military is reportedly preparing a large-scale counter-offensive to retake Indaw, a strategic town in northern Sagaing Region that has been under the control of resistance forces for over a year.
Local military sources told MPA that a convoy of approximately 30 military vehicles began moving from Taze in mid-April, reaching Katha on April 19. Currently stationed at the Light Infantry Battalion 309 base, the force—estimated to be at least 1,000 strong—is expected to advance toward the Nabha intersection, a critical junction within Indaw Township, in the coming days.
In response to the troop movements, the Indaw People’s Defence Team (Pa-Ka-Fa) issued an urgent warning on Tuesday, advising residents to prepare for imminent clashes.
“The resistance forces currently control the town, and the junta’s administrative machinery has completely collapsed there,” a spokesperson for the local resistance told MPA. “The town of Indaw itself is largely deserted as residents have already fled, but if this offensive begins, thousands more in the surrounding villages will be forced to evacuate.”
The local revolutionary group Indaw Revolution (IR) has also urged civilians to pack emergency kits, including essential medicines, food supplies, and important documents, warning that the military is likely to employ heavy airstrikes to support its ground assault.
Indaw and the nearby Nabha intersection are vital transit points connecting Sagaing Region with Kachin State. The town was captured by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied revolutionary forces on April 7, 2025, following an eight-month-long campaign that began in August 2024.
The initial fall of Indaw was a significant blow to the military junta, resulting in the capture of over 40 prisoners of war and a large cache of heavy weaponry. The military’s current attempt to reclaim the area marks a determined effort to restore its supply lines to the northern fronts.
As the military junta prepares to escalate the conflict, the humanitarian situation in northern Sagaing continues to deteriorate. Displacement has become a permanent state for many, with villages serving as temporary shelters for those who fled the initial fighting in the towns.
Analysts suggest that the impending battle for Indaw will be a major test for both sides. For the junta, it is an essential move to regain lost ground, while for the resistance, defending Indaw is critical to maintaining the territorial integrity of their “liberated zones” in upper Myanmar.
