NAYPAITAW, 28 July 2021, (TON): Seven naval vessels carrying troops and weapons up the Ayeyarwady River were fired on by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near the town of Shwegu, according to a KIA spokesperson.

KIA information officer Col. Nawbu told media “the attack on the naval convoy began near the village of Shwebonthar, about three miles from Shwegu.”

He said “they seem to be planning something, sending reinforcements like this. I heard there were also tanks. We’re still monitoring the situation.”

He added that local People’s Defence Force (KIA) troops fought alongside the KIA during the clashes.

He said “we occasionally collaborate with the PDF, though it’s not something that was arranged or ordered by our central command.”

The joint force managed to inflict some damage, but there were no reports of casualties, and the convoy was able to continue its journey, which it began in Mandalay three days earlier.

According to Kachin Wave, a local news outlet, “one of the vessels was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) but was not disabled by the attack”.