SAC Jets Drop Five Bombs on Hpakant on Thingyan Eve — KIA Drone Strikes Continue Through Day

Fighting continued in Hpakant Township, Kachin State on April 13, extending from the escalation that began April 11. Two SAC fighter jets dropped approximately five bombs on the Ma Shi Ka Htaung neighborhood near Sutaunggon Mountain at around 1:00 PM local time; a separate drone attack was carried out at approximately 3:00 PM; a further drone strike followed later in the afternoon. Around 4:00 PM, approximately 100 SAC soldiers were observed deploying into the area. Most residents had previously evacuated, limiting immediate reported civilian casualties. The previous evening (April 12), clashes between KIA forces and the SAC military continued with KIA drone attacks. The sustained April 11–13 fighting represents the third major escalation in Hpakant since KIA captured six SAC frontline positions near Maw Wan Gyi on April 2. The jade-mining township generates critical revenue for the junta — an estimated $2–3 billion annually — making the KIA offensive economically as well as militarily significant.