The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Friday evening seized Mantong Town, completing its takeover of Palaung Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan State, TNLA officers confirmed on Saturday.
The town was seized after the TNLA – an ethnic Palaung army – routed the junta’s Infantry Battalion 130, which was based in Mantong.
The TNLA previously seized Namkhan and Namhsan towns in the zone, which consists of Namhsan and Mantong townships and was formally established by the 2008 constitution.
The TNLA and its Brotherhood Alliance partners began fighting for Mantong as part of Operation 1027.
Mantong is located 25 km northwest of the historic Bawdwin Mine in Namtu Township. It is in a mountainous area east of Shweli River.
TNLA officers on Saturday confirmed that the town had been seized the evening before.
In its attempt to defend itself against the TNLA, the junta’s air force bombed Mantong Township more than 180 times from Dec. 19 to 22, the TNLA said.
In a Thursday statement, it said the junta bombed a camp for internally displaced persons in Mantong Town as well as civilians in the township’s Lwal Kan Village. One woman was injured in the airstrikes that destroyed at least 15 homes and buildings, including a monastery, the statement said.
The junta’s airstrikes also destroyed the homes in Man Kan and Hokho villages, as well as a monastery, residents said.
Thousands of residents of the town have been fleeing to villages nearby since Dec. 18 and are reluctant to return to the town, according to TNLA officers.
“Although we have taken control of the town, its residents do not dare to return because they are afraid of airstrikes by the junta,” a TNLA officer explained.
The TNLA and the junta forces both sustained casualties in clashes, the officer said, adding that the TNLA seized weapons and ammunition from the infantry battalion. He said it was still unclear how many weapons were seized.
Since the launch of Operation 1027 on October 27, the Brotherhood Alliance has seized 10 towns in northern Shan State from the junta.
The Brotherhood Alliance comprises three ethnic armies: the TNLA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army.
As it attacked junta bases and outposts in northern Shan State, its allies in other parts of the country – including People’s Defense Forces – seized a dozen towns from junta troops in Sagaing and Bago regions and Karenni (Kayah) and Chin States.
