This Sunday marks the first anniversary of the historic and successful anti-regime Operation 1027, conducted by the Brotherhood Alliance.
This operation is unprecedented in the revolution against Myanmar’s military dictatorship since the coup in 2021 and, observers agree, has dramatically shifted the conflict dynamics in Myanmar. It has resulted in a string of humiliating defeats for the Myanmar military and put it on the back foot across much of the country.
The Brotherhood Alliance consists of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army from Rakhine State (AA), which launched the operation on Oct. 27 of last year. This involved coordinated attacks on regime forces throughout northern Shan State alongside several other anti-regime resistance groups.
To support these efforts, additional resistance groups and ethnic armies executed large-scale offensives against the regime in the Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, and Bago Regions, as well as in Chin, Kachin, and Kayah States.
The Arakan Army has expanded operations into Rakhine State in western Myanmar, successfully seizing almost the whole state.
After a five-month pause in northern Shan State due to a China-brokered ceasefire agreed by the ethnic alliance and the regime in early January, the operation resumed in late June following repeated violations of the ceasefire by the junta’s military, which included bombings in ethnic territories.
The extensive and well-coordinated offensive has led to significant losses for the regime, including around 50 towns, vast territories, hundreds of military strongholds, and thousands of troops, including several generals.
On the eve of the first anniversary of the operation, The Irrawaddy brings you nine substantial takeaways from Operation 1027.
Historic and orchestrated offensive against the military regime
Operation 1027 stands as the largest and most well-organized offensive launched against the military regime since the 2021 coup and represents a tipping point in the revolution against the military dictatorship.
In collaboration with the Brotherhood Alliance, various anti-regime resistance groups, including the People’s Defense Force (PDF)—the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG)—have engaged the regime throughout northern Shan State.
To bolster Operation 1027, numerous ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and allied resistance groups have initiated separate, large-scale offensives in northern Shan, Kachin, Rakhine, Chin, and Karenni (Kayah) states, as well as in the Magwe, Sagaing, Mandalay, and Bago Regions.
The meticulously coordinated efforts of Operation 1027 and its affiliated offensives have dealt significant blows to the military regime, resulting in the loss of thousands of troops and substantial territorial concessions.
Expanding the operation to Rakhine State
The Arakan Army (AA) expanded Operation 1027 to Rakhine State in western Myanmar on Nov. 13 last year, rapidly seizing junta command centers, bases and towns. The ethnic army has now liberated most of Rakhine State, seizing some 14 out of the state’s 17 townships. It has also seized the whole township of Paletwa in neighboring Chin State.
Alongside other resistance groups, the AA is now continuing its efforts to seize the last six towns including the capital Sittwe and Ann town, which is home to the junta’s Western Military Command headquarters, as well as the island township of Kyaukphyu, where major Chinese investments are located.
At least 48 towns and hundreds of bases captured
A total of around 48 towns and hundreds of junta bases including around 70 military battalion headquarters as well as command centers and Northeastern Military Command headquarters have been seized during the Operation 1027.
Several hundreds of regime troops have been killed and an estimated 6,000-plus junta troops including up to six brigadier generals were arrested or surrendered to the ethnic alliance and allied resistance groups.
The TNLA and MNDAA have taken control of almost all northern Shan State, seizing around 25 towns including the capital Lashio along with several resistance groups. Meanwhile, the AA has also liberated most of Rakhine State, seizing around 14 towns and townships.
The junta has lost 10 or more towns to resistance offensives in Sagaing and Mandalay regions and Kachin State as other ethnic armies and resistance groups launched sperate offensives in coordination with Operation 1027.
The fall of NE Command and Lashio
The liberation of Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State, by the MNDAA marks the most significant milestone in the country’s ongoing war against the regime so far.
In early August, the ethnic army and its allied resistance groups took complete control of the city after a month of sustained assaults on various regime battalion headquarters and bases, including the junta’s Northeastern Military Command Headquarters.
This marks the first time that resistance forces have seized a regional capital and military command headquarters, representing a major turning point in Myanmar’s struggle against the junta.
Failed Chinese mediation and interventions
By hosting several rounds of peace talks in Kunming, the Chinese government sought to mediate between the regime and the ethnic alliance to halt the fighting while the junta faced heavy losses in northern Shan State.
In January the ethnic alliance agreed to a China-brokered ceasefire. But when the junta repeatedly conducted air and artillery strikes on ethnic territories in violation of the agreement, attacks resumed in northern Shan State in late June.
In response and to exert pressure, the Chinese government blocked border trade to Kokang, which is the MNDAA’s home base, as well as areas liberated by the TNLA along the Chinese border, creating significant hardships for local residents. In late August, Beijing also pressured the powerful United Wa State Army (UWASA) to implement a “five-cuts” strategy against the MNDAA aimed at denying them access electricity, water, internet, supplies, and personnel.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government issued a stark warning to the TNLA to cease its operations against the regime or face repercussions. Despite this interference, the MNDAA, TNLA, and allied resistance groups managed to seize six additional towns, including the capital Lashio and the ruby-rich town of Mogkok in northern Mandalay Region, and just last week Hsipaw in northern Shan State.
Garnering popular support
The sweeping success of Operation 1027 has garnered widespread support across the nation, where many people are enduring significant hardships under the military regime.
Numerous anti-regime revolutionary groups, including ethnic armed groups and the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), have voiced their backing for the operation, sending congratulatory messages celebrating its achievements.
Throughout the operation, several resistance groups launched their own initiatives and attacks against regime forces in various regions, demonstrating solidarity with the Brotherhood Alliance. Meanwhile, people nationwide participated in anti-regime protests to express their support.
Many remain hopeful that the ethnic alliance will continue to secure victories and expand its operations into neighboring states and regions, and there is widespread condemnation of China’s overt interference.
Junta retaliation with aerial bombardments
Unable to deploy ground troops to reclaim lost territory, the junta has intensified airstrikes on resistance-held areas in northern Shan State and Rakhine State, disrupting the governance and rehabilitation efforts in these war-torn regions.
From May to August this year, the junta conducted a total of 820 airstrikes, killing over 450 civilians and injuring more than 800 others. The majority of these strikes targeted Rakhine and northern Shan states.
Since junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s vow in September to retake lost territory through a counteroffensive, the air force has further escalated its campaign. Since last August, there have been around 20 airstrikes on civilian targets in Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State.
Designating Brotherhood Alliance members as terrorists
On Sept. 2, the military regime labeled the AA, TNLA and MNDAA as “terrorist groups” following a series of humiliating battlefield defeats and significant territorial losses to these ethnic armies.
In doing so, the junta has effectively ruled out any possibility of dialogue or peace negotiations with them. The designation also eliminates the possibility for China to facilitate peace talks between the regime and the ethnic alliance, a role it has played in the past.
Junta’s activation of conscription law
After witnessing the surrender or death of thousands of regime troops—including several generals—during Operation 1027, the junta hastily activated a conscription law in early February. This requires all men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve for up to five years.
In response to the exodus of young people fleeing forced conscription, the junta in May banned men from leaving the country for work.
So far the regime has recruited six batches of up to 5,000 people each month, relying on conscripts who receive only the briefest military training to bolster its forces in areas affected by Operation 1027 and other frontlines.
